“Are we back to that? The weather is atrocious.”
“That’s why you don’t drive in weather like this, you park and wait it out.”
Muttering to herself, Charlotte folded her arms and looked out the side window.
Feeling a bit mean, Bree broke the silence after several minutes. “Look, I understand that you want to see a UFO, but you need to learn the rules.”
“You can teach me.”
“Oh no. My dedicated UFO days are behind me. Now it’s just a hobby.” Pausing, Bree glanced at Charlotte’s crestfallen face. “Look, I could take you out if I ever go, but,” she added, upon seeing Charlotte’s eager face, “I pick my times. I don’t go all the time, I choose the times, the places, and when to come back home. I don’t want to be stuck on a schedule. I sometimes don’t go out for several weeks at a time, or unless I think it’s worth it.” Cruel though it sounded, when she did go on a hunt, she didn’t want to get stuck with someone who wanted to sit on a blanket and sip tea, or chat until her ears ached. Experience had taught her that Charlotte could talk the hind leg off a donkey. Or drive herself into a ditch, apparently. Which reminded her… “Besides, what about your UFO group? Aren’t you supposed to be going out with them?”
Charlotte sniffed. “They didn’t want to go out tonight, said with a storm coming it was too dangerous, can you believe it?”
“I totally agree.”
“But you went out in a storm.”
“I parked in a safe place.”
Charlotte humphed. “So, if you didn’t come out to join me, why are you on the road in a storm? Huh?” Her head swung around sharply. “Wait a minute. You know something! You know something is out there and-”
“I came looking for you.” Seeing the blurry image of the town lights, Bree drew a silent breath of relief.
“To join me, right? I knew it.”
“No, because I found out that David had stayed home and when you didn’t answer your phone, I knew you were out here somewhere.”
Charlotte was silent, her mouth hanging open a little.
Bree turned into a street. “I was worried. Apparently, I was right to be.” She pulled to a stop.
Charlotte peered out at the hospital sign. “What are we doing here?”
“You’re having a check up.”
“I don’t need one. I’m fine.”
“You drove into a ditch.”
“But I didn’t hurt myself.”
“Look, you’re seventy years old. That’s not ancient, granted, but your bones are possibly more brittle.”
“Nothing hurts.”
“Then just humour me.”
Charlotte’s expression was mulish. Great.
Bree leaned on the steering wheel, trying to be reasonable. “Look, a quick check and I’ll take you home.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“No, you sitting here like a stuffed chook when someone is trying to help you is ridiculous.”
Charlotte sniffed indignantly.
Bree had a pretty good feeling the woman might be starting to feel a little foolish but not yet going to admit it. Time to do something for the greater good. “Every decent alien watcher gets checked out after an accident, no matter how small.”
“That’s a lie, Bree Mason. I didn’t come down in the last shower.”
Tiredly, Bree rubbed her eyes. “Okay, I lied. But please come in and get checked out.”
“I don’t see why.”
“Holy crap, Charlotte!” Bree lost her patience. “Twice I risked getting fried by using the phone, then I go out into a bloody stormy night to find you, and when I try to do the right thing you get all bloody stubborn. Sheesh!”
Charlotte stared at her for a few second before opening the door and stepping out with her chin high. “No need for dramatics, Bree.”
For one satisfying second Bree imagined a bolt of lightening frying Charlotte’s arse, but pushing the thought away, she followed her into the hospital. Twenty minutes later, she followed her back out to the van.
Charlotte got in and folded her arms. “Told you so,” she sniffed when Bree got into the driver’s seat.
“All right, all ready.”
“Said I was fine, didn’t I? But would you believe me?”
Maybe she should have left Charlotte in her ditched car. It was a relief when her house came into sight, the front light on, all warm and beckoning.
Charlotte got out. “Want something to drink to warm you up?”
Surprised, Bree looked at her. “Thanks, but no.”
“Seems like the least I can do, considering.” Charlotte frowned.
Amusement spiked through Bree, wiping away her annoyance. “No worries. Just go inside, get warm, okay? It’s been quite an evening.”
“You sure you don’t want to come in?” Charlotte looked up at the lightly sprinkling rain.
“I’m good to go while the rain holds up Just remember, UFO hunters don’t go out alone.”
“You did.”
“Let’s not go there again.” Reversing out of the driveway, Bree made one last stop at the police station to inform them that Charlotte’s car was in a ditch, the driver was fine and safe at home.
After getting a few details, Dan, the constable, told her he’d get in touch with Charlotte the next morning and meanwhile he’d check the car to make certain it was safe for other drivers to go past.
By the time she pulled into her own driveway, Bree looked at her watch and sighed. It was late. No sooner had she gotten out of the car than the heavens let loose another torrent, and she sprang up the steps into the shelter of the veranda, toeing off her muddied sneakers while swearing beneath her breath.
Once inside, she got back into her flannel nightie, made a hot Milo and went to bed with a book. So much for her restful evening. At least Charlotte was safe in her own home, though, and David was under the watchful eye of his father. She had to be grateful for small mercies.
~*~
Obviously Charlotte had learned a lesson of sorts, because a bouquet of flowers arrived at the hairdresser from Charlotte, with a little note that read, ‘Thank you for helping me. Sorry I’m such a silly old duffer.’
“From Nick?” Bella sniffed the bouquet. “Nice.”
Not about to dob on Charlotte, Bree just smiled and tucked the card into her pocket. Going into the back room, she picked up the phone and dialled Charlotte’s number.
“Hi,” she said as soon as Charlotte picked up. “Thanks for the flowers.”
Charlotte sighed. “I’m sorry, dear. I thought about what you said, about what happened. And then Dan gave me a lecture followed by Alfred, our SOW leader, taking me to task. Now I, well, I realise how silly I was. I acted without really thinking or being prepared.”
“Don’t worry. We all go there many, many times.”
“Is that supposed to be comforting?”
“It just means we’re human. But learn from this experience. Stick with your SOW group, they seem to have good thinking.”
“As opposed to me,” Charlotte said dryly.
“Safety in numbers.”
“Yet you went alone.”
“Here’s the thing. I did go alone, true, but Nick made me promise not to go hunting without him now, so that means I don’t go alone anymore.”
“Oh.” Charlotte sounded genuinely surprised, then approval crept into her voice. “That boy is such a gentleman. They’re few and far between these days. You keep a hold of him, Bree.”
“I intend to.” Hearing the shop door, she peeked into the reception area. “Got a customer, Charlotte. I’ll catch you later.”
The rest of the morning went quietly, and Bree was able to knock off for lunch earlier. Picking up the salad rolls from the café, she drove out to Harly’s place. Parking in front of the house, she went up the steps and toed off her shoes, leaving her feet in socks.
Before she could knock on the door, it swung open to reveal Nick.
“Hi.” She smiled up at
him, went on tip-toe to give him a quick kiss.
Placing one hand at her back, he ushered her past him.
“So, you enjoying playing lord of the manor, master of the keep?”
Hmmm?” He followed her into the kitchen.
“With Harly and Alex away, you have the house to yourself.”
“Oh. Yeah. I’ve done it before.”
“Last couple of times you came?” Bree placed the rolls on the table.
“Yep.”
Catching something in his tone, she turned to face him. One look at his bland expression and she just knew something was up. “What’s wrong?”
“How was your quiet evening last night?”
“Ah. Someone’s been telling tales.”
“Is there a tale?”
“Are you going to get bent out of shape if I say yes?”
He just looked at her.
With a sigh, she leaned back against the table. “Point form. Charlotte wanted me to go on a watch, I declined, she took off with David, I got worried when the weather got bad, found out Ted had made David stay home, found out Charlotte hadn’t gotten home, and I went looking for her. Found her in a ditch, took her to hospital for a check-up, took her home, stopped off at the cop shop to let them know what happened and came home. See? Nothing.”
“Nothing,” he echoed.
“I told you you’d get bent out of shape if I said yes.”
“You think I’m bent out of shape?”
Bree eyed him consideringly. “You’re not calm.”
“I don’t look calm?”
“I know you enough that a bland face doesn’t mean you’re calm.”
“Honey, I’m calm. I’m just…”
“Happy?”
There went that look again. Man, he had a look that could make a grown woman fidget, and not in a good way.
“Ecstatic? Relieved?”
He took several steps closer. “I’m relieved that you made it safely through that storm.”
“See? Nothing to worry about.” Quickly she turned around. “Let’s eat.”
Long fingers pushed under the hem of her cardigan to hook into the band of her slacks and yank her back against a hard, tall body. Nick’s voice was low, a hint of steel running through the deep tones. “You used the phone during a storm.”
Uh-oh.
“Twice.”
Not good.
His breath brushed her ear. “You went out into a storm.”
Crap.
“A storm much, much worse than the one you went into when I first met you.”
“Um…yes?”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t do the five second countdown and then deliver.”
“Because I never mentioned my weight or ran myself down. In fact, ” she turned around, slid her arms around him and looked up beguilingly, “I refused the invite to go UFO hunting with Charlotte and David, so technically I didn’t break my word.”
“Technically,” he echoed.
“Well actually, I didn’t break my word. I did what I thought was right and found Charlotte. No harm.”
“No harm?” Brawny arms came around her to hug her close, almost squeezing the breath from her. “Jesus, Bree. Do you have any idea how I felt when Paul told me?”
“Paul? Geez, that didn’t take him long.” She hugged him back. “Nick, you have to chill out. You forget that I’m used to looking after myself. I was careful, I promise. I crawled along at a snail’s pace. I’m not a novice at driving in all kinds of weather.”
“I know you can look after yourself.” With a sigh, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I can’t help feeling the way I do. I never want to see you in danger, know you were in possible danger, with me not there to protect you. Promise me that next time you’ll ring the cops.”
“In a storm?”
“No. Yes. Bugger.”
Bree laughed.
“Don’t go out.”
“Nick-”
“I’m serious, Bree.” Cupping her cheeks, he tilted her head back so he could meet her gaze. “If I’m not here, please don’t knowingly put yourself in danger.”
“I wasn’t in danger.” Any growing annoyance she felt died at the clear worry in his eyes, the shadows in the brilliant green. It had been years since anyone worried so much for her safety, and it was heart-warming. Her tone gentled. “I can promise to be careful. I’m always careful, but for you, I will take every added precaution, every safe step. I’ll even drive slowly and carefully to the cop shop first to tell them, and then they can go look. How’s that?”
He sighed.
“Nick.”
“I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”
“Hey, this is me. It’s what I do. A friend in need? I’m there. But I’m careful how I do it. Okay?”
“This is killing me, but okay.” He frowned. “But I’m warning you, the first time you get hurt trying to help someone, I’ll wait until you’re better and then give the five second countdown and deliver.”
“Does the same go for me while you’re wherever your mob goes next?”
“It’s my job. I’m trained for it.”
“And so am I in a totally different way. What’s good for the goose etc etc.”
“Maybe I’ll do the five second countdown just for the hell of it.”
Laughing, Bree gave him a quick hug. “Poor baby. What can I do to make you feel better?” Tipping her head back, she smiled up at him. “What-”
Her words were lost by Nick taking her mouth, giving no mercy. Tongue demanding entrance, he swept in, plundering deep, taking everything she had with an almost desperate voracity.
In that second she realised how worried he’d been, how scared even, thinking all kinds of things, and it must have been ten times worse than how she felt about Charlotte.
Because he loved her.
Because he couldn’t be with her.
Because that was just the kind of man he was.
Wanting to reassure him, seeking to give him comfort, Bree returned the kiss, pressing against him, hand sweeping under his jumper and shirt to slide up the warm skin of his back.
Almost immediately she felt the hunger in him turn hotter, more carnal, his shaft hardening behind his jeans to press urgently against her belly.
It produced a similar reaction in her, heat filling her, pooling between her thighs, her body responding to his as it always did.
When he lifted his head, she read the intent in his eye, and only a slim thread of common sense had her saying breathlessly, “I’m on lunch break.”
“Ever hear of a nooner?” His voice was a little harsh with need.
“I don’t have time to go to bed, Nick.”
“Who said anything about bed?”
With that, he kissed her again, licked deep, his fingers moving smoothly under her shirt to cup her breasts, hard palms massaging through her bra.
Immediately her nipples pebbled, begging for his touch, her response to his touch and scent almost instant. Knowing his touch, craving it, willing it.
Nick, her personal addiction.
Unashamedly she kissed back, returned the touches, nipped his lower lip and laughed huskily when he growled.
Big hands caught her waist, spun her around, his hard body crowding her against the table. Before she knew it his thumbs had hooked into the waistband of her slacks and pushed them down past her thighs, his hands coming back to cup her buttocks, squeezing firmly, sending another rush of heat through her.
Arching up, she slid her arm back, her hand around his nape, angling her head to the side to give him access to the pulse beating so erratically in her neck.
Nick latched onto it, licking roughly before sucking lightly, pressing his tongue to the beat, tasting her. At the same time she felt his knowing fingers slide between her thighs, dance along the curls at the apex before lightly, carefully, delving between the shelter of her labia.
Heat blossomed, rushing through her, pooling in so many delic
ious places, leaving her gasping and moaning as he played her body, knowing the touches that had her arching, the caresses that made her squirm, the hidden places to seek out and press to make her cream hotly, spread her thighs decadently.
The slacks were confining, but the stretchy material made it easier.
Then his hand was between her shoulders, pushing her down, bending her over the tbale. Cool air played around her moistness, eliciting a shiver from her, his finger finding her again, circling the opening of her body before pushing in deep.
The sensation of his invasion had her pushing back against him, the way he hooked his finger inside her to tug gently at her sheath making her stomach drop clean away.
“Nick.” Her voice was thready, breathless. Pleading.
One jean-clad thigh pushed between her bared ones, spreading her as much as the slacks would allow. “So wet, honey. So wanting.”
“Please, Nick.” Pulses pounded in anticipation of his entrance, nipples scraping against her bra.
His hand soothed across her lower back, his other hand pressed against her secrets. One finger stroking her inside, another finger pressing her clitoris.
Sparks skittered out, spread throughout her lower body.
He shifted, his lips brushing across her lower back. “God, Bree.” His words were hot and moist on her skin, tongue laving roughly in the small of her back. “If we had the time, I’d kneel right now and lick you out.”
That mental picture alone had her shuddering, vaginal muscles clamping down on his finger.
Nick chuckled harshly. “Like that idea, do you? Good. Because next time I’m going to lie you out and feast on you. But for now…” He straightened, his finger disappearing. “For now, let’s do this quick and rough.” There was the sound of a condom wrapper ripping.
Braced on her hands, Bree stretched up, intent on looking back over her shoulder, hungry for a glimpse of the tight desire she knew she’d see on his face, but before she could do so properly bare skin met the backs of her legs, the flex of hard muscle, and then his shaft was there, hot tip pressed to her opening.
“Hold on, honey,” he rasped. “We’re in for a rough ride.”
He certainly spoke the truth.
One hard thrust and he was buried high inside her, but he didn’t wait, drawing out almost instantly to slam back in.
All Bree could do was hold on to the table, try to stop her hands from slipping across the smooth surface as Nick pounded into her, his hands holding her hips tight, his hips slamming into her over and over.
The Goodbye Girl Page 29