by Katie Ashley
As Mama went, “Aw” and Pease replied, “I’ll be damned”, I stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Catcher. Did he really mean that, or was he just saying it to look good in front of Mama and Pease? I couldn’t help noticing the sincere look in his eyes.
I didn’t have a lot of experience with men, but it seemed that he and I were moving at almost warped speed from hot sex to a relationship. The rational side of me questioned what I really knew about him besides he was a hot-as-hell GBI agent with a great sense of a humor and a fantastic cock? I tried pushing the voices of doubt out of my head. I wanted to enjoy what we had for as long as I could.
“You are just about the sweetest man I’ve met in a long, long time,” Mama cooed. She patted my arm. “Isn’t he just the sweetest?”
“Yes. He really is,” I replied, staring directly at Catcher.
“You ladies are going to make me blush,” he teased.
Pease snorted. “I doubt there’s anything that would make you blush. I’m sure with your looks, you’ve just about seen and done it all.”
With that comment, the moment’s previous spell was broken. “And on that note, it’s time to go.” I reached out and took Catcher’s hand. “See you all tomorrow.”
When I started dragging Catcher to the door, Pease called, “I hope you packed a toothbrush in that purse. And some clean panties.”
After chuckling, Catcher muttered, “Jesus.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I said, “I’ll stop for a toothbrush. And no need for panties. I’m not wearing any now.”
A quiet “Fuck me,” came from Agent Sexy Pants beside me. And with that, I slammed the front door. As we started for his convertible, Catcher asked, “Were you serious about not wearing any panties?”
I laughed. “I guess you’ll just have to be a good boy and wait to find out.”
After making a quick stop at my house to pick up my overnight bag, we got on the road. Once we neared Catcher’s house, he surprised me by wheeling the convertible into a Publix parking lot. Before I could question him, he turned to me with a sheepish smile. “Call me an unprepared ass, but I haven’t had a chance to make it to the grocery store yet.”
“That’s okay. I don’t mind helping you shop.”
“You sure? You can wait here in the car if you want.”
I laughed. “Would you roll the window down for me like I was a dog?” I teasingly questioned.
“For you, I’d leave the car running,” he replied, with a wink.
I reached for my purse. “I’m more than happy to shop with you.”
Catcher nodded and then got out of the car. He shocked the hell out of me when he jogged around the front so he could open my door. “You know my mother and grandmother aren’t here to impress anymore,” I joked.
“Har, har. I’m a gentleman even when there isn’t anyone around to impress.”
“Even without opening the door for me, you made a hell of an impression on my mother and Pease.”
With a grin, Catcher said, “Your grandmother is really something.”
“Yes. She is.”
“Did you know she goosed me in the ass with her cane?”
“I’m not surprised. I kinda got the vibe that she was a little hot for you. Like some unresolved sexual tension.”
Catcher’s eyes bulged. “Only on her part,” he protested.
I giggled. “Of course. I know you’re not about to leave me for a roll in the hay with my grandmother.”
He shuddered as he pulled out a cart for us. “You know, I think she might’ve tried to touch my junk if your mom hadn’t been there.”
“Probably.”
“Damn,” he muttered.
“Welcome to my world.”
Catcher steered the cart over to the produce section. “Are there any vegetables you don’t like?”
“I’m not a fan of radishes, but that’s about it. I pretty much eat anything.”
Catcher grinned. “Since we’re in public, I’m going to be a good boy and leave that potential innuendo alone.”
“That has to take some serious resolve to do that.”
“It does.”
“What can I get to help move things along?”
“Get me two yellow squash and two zucchini.”
“Coming right up.”
After rifling through the pile of squash for the best ones, I picked two and then bagged them. I was deciding between two enormous zucchini when Catcher rolled up with the cart. “Remind you of me?” he teasingly asked.
With a roll of my eyes, I countered, “I thought you were going to behave since we’re in public?”
“I had a momentary lapse there. I’ll try to do better.”
“I’m not going to hold my breath.”
“You know me too well.”
Once we were finished in the produce section, Catcher steered the cart over to the bakery. He selected a long loaf of French bread before moving on to the sweets. “What should we have for dessert?”
“I’m deeply wounded you didn’t bake me a cake or make a pie,” I teased.
“Desserts aren’t my specialty. I usually leave that to my mother.”
“Aw. How sweet.”
“Why is that sweet?”
“You know, that you’re a Mama’s Boy.”
Catcher scowled. “I wouldn’t say that.” When I cocked my brows at him, he replied, “Fine. Maybe a little bit.”
I smiled. “Does your mama spoil her baby boy?”
“Pretty much. Now she’s retired, she loves cooking dinner for me. Since Jem’s married, she feels she has to take care of me since I don’t have a wife to do it.”
“That’s very sweet.”
“Speaking of sweet…” Catcher held up a container of a half dozen cupcakes. “I kinda have an addiction to cupcakes.”
“You do?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.
Catcher appeared affronted. “Can’t a man like a cupcake without it emasculating him?”
With a laugh, I replied, “My apologies.”
He grinned. “It’s not exactly classy, but what about cupcakes for dessert?”
“Are they vanilla cake with buttercream icing?”
After examining the label, Catcher answered, “Yes.”
“Then I’m all in.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you,” Catcher said before a brief kiss on my lips.
I’d never in a million years imagined a grocery store could be romantic. But in that moment, I felt like I was in the middle of a sugary-sweet RomCom, and I loved every minute of it.
“What’s your favorite meat?” Catcher asked. Before I could answer, he added, “Well, excluding my dick.”
I rolled my eyes. “You really need help for the innuendos.”
“Like an Innuendo Anonymous meeting?”
“Something like that.”
“It would probably be a waste of time because whenever someone would get up to tell their story, some other ass would find something sexual in what they said.”
I laughed. “Good point.”
Catcher then stopped the cart in front of the seafood counter. “I was thinking about some pan-seared salmon. How does that sound?”
“Delicious. I love salmon.”
“Good.”
“Can I make just one request?”
“Sure.”
“That you buy that kind.” I pointed to the tray filled with descaled salmon.
“Why those?”
“It’s silly really, but I’m not a big fan of seeing the scales or having eyeballs looking up at me.”
Catcher laughed as he waved the attendant over. “No scales it is.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, babe.”
And just like that, I was back to floating along in my grocery store RomCom.
We didn’t take too long at the store, and before long, we were back on the road to Catcher’s house. After we’d traveled for ten minutes, Catcher eased the car off the main high
way onto a two-lane road. “Have you lived out here long?”
“About two years. My parents retired from teaching at Westminster Prep in Atlanta ten years ago, and they wanted to move out of the city to the country. They found this place with ten acres. They gave my brother, sister, and me each two acres. Jem built his house right away, and then he and I worked on mine for probably a year or two. Doing a little here and there when we could.”
After making a right turn, we started down a small paved road. “That’s my parents’ house,” Catcher said, pointing to a two-story colonial with a wide, wrap-around porch.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” I replied, as he stopped the car to let me get a good look.
He leaned across me and pointed to a Cape Cod on the right. “And there’s Jem’s.”
I smiled when I saw the white picket fence yard was filled with toys. “How many children does he have?”
Catcher rolled his eyes. “Four and another on the way.”
I turned in my seat with surprise. “Five children?”
“Three girls and two boys—well, the third girl is on the way. Jem always wanted a houseful of kids. Thankfully, he found a chick who felt the same way. They got married at twenty and started popping kids out like clock-work after she finished her teaching degree two years later.”
I peered curiously at him. “It doesn’t much sound like you like kids.”
He shook his head. “I love kids.”
“Then why did you roll your eyes about Jem’s kids?”
“Because I don’t want a houseful like he has. Give me one or two, and I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until my lungs screamed in agony for relief. I exhaled in a long whoosh. “Thought I was a heartless bastard who didn’t want kids, eh?” Catcher asked.
A nervous laugh bubbled from my lips. “No, no. I wasn’t thinking that at all.”
“Of course you were.”
“Okay, maybe I was.” I held my thumb and forefinger close together. “Maybe a little.”
“I knew I was right.”
“You’re so cocky.”
He glanced down at his crotch and then back over to me. “Don’t we know it?”
“Catcher, please.”
He held up one of his hands. “Fine, fine. I’ll stop. I can assume that you want kids one day from the reaction you had to me potentially not wanting them.”
“Yes. I do want kids. I want them very much.” I stared down at my hands. “It’s an unfulfilled dream to be a mother…and a wife.” The moment the words left my lips, I cringed. I had just committed one of the cardinal sins of dating. I’d been emotionally slutty by revealing too much about my relationship goals. Admitting I wanted to get married would probably have Catcher shriveling in his seat.
Catcher took my hand. “Olivia, I’m thirty-three years old. I’ve had my wild party years. I’ve got a mortgage on a house with two spare bedrooms—bedrooms that when I was building the house, I envisioned putting Little Catchers in.”
I couldn’t help giggling at his description. “That was very practical of you to think ahead.”
“Thank you. I’m a pretty practical guy.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I know what I want, and I relentlessly pursue it until I get it.”
Butterflies began break dancing in my stomach at his comment and the way he was looking at me. Was it possible after all these years and all the emotional subterfuge, I had finally found the one? And had I found the one after only a few days? In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help wondering if Catcher was feeling the same connection. I mean, was that the reason why he’d said he wanted to settle down too? I wasn’t sure if I was jumping to conclusions or leaping. The last thing I needed after getting back in the game was to get my heart broken.
Catcher tenderly placed my hand back on my lap. “Now let me show you my house.”
My reply of “Okay” came in an almost breathless whisper because I was still trying to recover from the heaviness of the conversation.
After we left his parents’ and brother’s house in the distance, Catcher pulled up outside of a beautiful log home that looked like it could’ve been on the brochure of a mountain getaway. It even had a green-tin roof.
“Wow,” I murmured.
“Good wow, or bad wow?” Catcher asked.
I turned to him and smiled. “That’s a very good wow.”
Relief appeared on his face. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“You and your brother really built this?”
“We sure did…with a little help from his crew.”
“It’s amazing.”
After hitting the button to open the garage, Catcher eased the convertible inside. “You look around while I get the groceries.”
“Are you sure?”
Catcher grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ve hidden all the sex toys and drugs.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
After giving me a playful kiss, Catcher got out of the car and went around to the trunk to get the bags, so I went to the door leading into the house. When I opened it, I entered the kitchen. Setting sunlight streamed in from the back wall that was filled with windows. Everything appeared new and modern from the stainless steel appliances, beige granite countertops, and sandy-colored tile floor.
When I heard Catcher behind me, I couldn’t help asking, “Do you have a cleaning lady?”
He set the bags down on the deep mahogany kitchen table. The cabinets were the same rich color. “Actually, it’s all me.”
“You’re kidding.”
Catcher laughed. “No. I’m not. I’m pretty much a neat freak.” He cocked his head at me. “What about you?”
“I’m kinda a cross between a neat freak and a slob.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Come to my house, and you can find out,” I replied with a smile.
“I’ve been to your house, remember?”
“You saw the foyer and part of the living room. You can’t really judge based on those. It’s more into my bedroom and bathroom.”
He slid his arms around my waist and drew me to him. “I would love to spend time in your bedroom.”
I laughed. “You might abandon any thoughts of sex because you were so grossed out by the mess.”
Catcher shook his head. “The bedroom would have to be on fire for me to abandon you.”
The beat of my heart felt like it was doing a trippy hopscotch. My eyelids fluttered a few times as I stared at Catcher. “I’m fighting the urge to pinch you right now.”
“Can I suggest my ass?”
“I was being serious.”
“So was I.”
After a playful smack on the arm, I said, “I mean, I was wanting to pinch you to see if you were real. These past few days feel like a dream.”
“Considering we’ve been involved with nudists, snake handlers, and a guy with two dicks, I’d wager that would be more of a nightmare than a dream.”
I tugged the strands of hair at the base of his neck. “I’m serious, Catcher.”
“I know you are. I also know after everything you’ve been through with guys, it’s hard for you to say what you’re feeling. I was giving you an out with the jokes in case you needed one.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need one. Not with you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Oh shit. He was serious. And he wanted me. Yes, me. The eternally single woman.
Leaning forward, I brought my lips to his. After a few breathless moments of kissing, Catcher pulled away. “We’ve got to stop this, or there won’t be any dinner made.”
I pressed myself tighter against him. “I don’t mind.”
He gave a frustrated grunt. “I do. I’ve got to get at least one dinner in you.”
With a laugh, I eased back. “Okay. I can wait.”
“Good.” He took my hand. “Let me show you the rest of the house.”
“Sure.”
I let Cat
cher drag me into the living room. It had high, cathedral ceilings, and the walls were light-colored wood that matched the floors. There was a leather sofa and loveseat along with a giant-screen television. “I’m a little minimalist when it comes to decorating,” Catcher said.
“You don’t need much—a rug with some good earth tones, maybe some curtains.”
“Hmm, so I need a woman’s touch to my swinging bachelor pad?”
I cupped his ass through his pants. “A woman’s touch is always a good idea, isn’t it?”
He grinned. “You’re killin’ me, Smalls.”
Giggling, I removed my hand. “Sorry. I’ll try to be a good girl from now on out.”
“Just be good until dinner is over. After that, you can be as bad as you want to be.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Catcher then gave me a tour of the rest of the house. Everything was beautiful, and if I allowed myself, I could imagine living here with him. In my fantasy of playing house with him here, I tried ignoring the nagging fact that he was forty-five minutes away from my work.
When we returned to the kitchen, Catcher patted one of the bar stools. “Up.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied as I hopped onto the stool.
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I would love one.”
Catcher headed over to the fridge. “I’ve been saving this white for a special occasion.”
I bit my tongue to keep from asking if it was for an occasion with another woman. I didn’t want to think about the potential string of hussies who had sat on this barstool. Regardless of how well things were going between us, Catcher’s past was just too depressing to think about.
He interrupted my thoughts by setting a glass of white wine in front of me. “Thank you,” I said before taking a sip. As I let the liquid roll over my tongue, I nodded appreciatively. “This is really delicious.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He poured himself a glass before taking the vegetables out to wash.
“Can I help you with that?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Dinner tonight is all on me. You are to just sit there and relax.”
“Wow. How nice of you.”
He winked at me before saying, “My pleasure.”
“Trust me. Watching you cook for me is my pleasure.”