by Seana Kelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kate
SHOWER SEX, WHO KNEW? My limited previous experience with the sport had been awkward and disappointing. I’d been too concerned with drowning to enjoy it. Perhaps the showerhead shouldn’t have been pointed directly at my face. Whatever. Bygones. I was starting a new life, one with a man who made sure I was thoroughly clean, sliding his soapy hands all over me, although he did have some favorite spots. A man who made sure the nice, hot water was pulsating on our bodies, not directly up my nose. It’s the little things.
Aiden took off at a run afterward. It was okay, though. I had plenty of stuff to do that didn’t involve Aiden. Like right now, I was sitting on my porch, drinking a cup of coffee and thinking about last night. Technically, that did involve Aiden, but it wasn’t necessary for him to be present for me to fantasize. I was fully capable of doing that on my own.
I heard leaves crunch and looked up. Connor was strolling through the trees toward me and Chaucer. “Shit, shit, shit, look innocent,” I whispered to him. He stood, stretching, watching Connor approach. “I mean it. Don’t rat me out, okay? There’s a bully stick in your future if you pretend nothing happened last night.” He turned his head and stared at me. “Or this morning.”
“Good morning.” Connor paused at the bottom of the steps. “Are you okay, Katie?”
I sat up straighter and folded my hands in my lap. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He slowly climbed the stairs, studying me. “Well, your voice is higher than usual, and you’re looking everywhere but at me.”
“What?” I popped up out of my chair. “Don’t be silly. Just a nice, quiet, relaxing morning, just me and my dog, hanging out, not doing anything.” I looked at my coffee cup, still avoiding eye contact. If it had been Gran standing there, she’d have taken one look at me and asked what I’d been doing to put that guilty look on my face.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?” I hazarded a look in his direction. He appeared puzzled but not suspicious. Luckily, Connor didn’t know me as well as Gran had.
“How much have you had this morning?” he asked.
My mind flashed on all the sex I’d had last night and this morning. “What?”
He pointed to my cup. “Coffee.”
I reached for the lifeline and clung. “Oh, sorry, yeah. Too much, obviously! I’m a little wired right now.” I picked up my cup and ducked in the side door. “Be right back.”
I returned a few minutes later with coffee and a muffin for Connor. “In case you’re hungry.”
He picked up the muffin, seemingly surprised. “You make muffins, too?”
I shrugged. “I like to bake. They’re apple.”
He broke open the muffin and took a bite. “Mmm, delicious.” He nodded, looking out over Gran’s garden. “Did Aiden take care of you last night?”
I squeaked, “Uh...”
He focused on me again. “Aiden. Did he drive you home last night?”
I willed my pulse to slow. “Oh, right, no.” His brow furrowed, so I quickly continued, “I switched to water and we stayed longer. I chatted with people and danced. Jane made me sing. It was a full night.”
He grinned at the mention of singing. “Now I wish I’d stayed later. I’m sorry to have missed it.” He winked. “Feel like taking a drive to a restaurant-supply store? I found one an hour or so northwest of here. How about we spend the day in Bangor?”
I sat up straighter. “I’d love to! Let me just go get changed into real people clothes.” I was wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt.
“Go ahead. I’ll just finish my muffin.” He shooed me away.
I returned ten minutes later with my curling hair piled in a loose bun, wearing jeans and a turtleneck with my new black coat. Chaucer stood and wagged his tail, expecting to be invited. I leaned over and gave him a hug and tummy scratch. “Sorry, little man. I can’t take you. You’d be sitting in a car for hours.” I walked him into the kitchen. “Come on. I’ll get you a treat.”
The drive from Bar Harbor to Bangor was lovely. The trees blazed with color, and the Saturday-morning traffic was light. Connor directed us downtown to a large warehouse in an industrial area.
“We’re not buying anything,” I assured him. “We’re taking pictures, making notes, measuring. We’re on a fact-finding mission only. Okay?”
He just smiled and nodded absently.
The warehouse was filled to bursting with furniture sets and fixtures, place settings and utensils, appliances and decor. The picture in my head of the diner changed with each new arrangement I saw, but we hadn’t yet hit on the perfect one.
My phone buzzed. When I pulled it out of my pocket, I saw I had a text from Aiden. I glanced around to make sure Connor wasn’t paying attention. He was talking with a salesperson, so I pulled up the message.
Do you want to meet me downtown for lunch?
Can’t. On a date.
...
So far, so good. He’s nice and handsome. Tall, broad shoulders, blue eyes. I can send you a pic.
...
I took a quick photo of Connor sitting in a booth, his hand brushing the fabric, and sent it to Aiden.
He took me to this fabulous place in Bangor.
So, you’re saying that damn old man stole my girl and you’ll be gone all day?
My heart fluttered. “My girl.” I tried to shake it off. It probably was just a phrase, didn’t mean more than that, but...
Your girl? Says who?
I believe I just did. Why is he petting a seat?
My heart beat faster. I could feel my face reddening.
We’re at a restaurant supply warehouse, checking out things for the diner.
Hell, I was planning to take you to a place like that.
I smiled, warm and happy.
“Did you find one you liked?” Connor walked up next to me, to see what had me smiling.
“Oh, no. I was just thinking.” I slipped the phone back into my coat pocket, as we continued down the aisle. “There are a lot of beautiful furniture sets, but they’re just not right.”
He stopped walking. “We could go grab some lunch and then come back with fresher brains and eyes.”
“No. I’m okay. We only have a few more rows.” Connor looked tired, so I changed the suggestion. “You know what? I’m just going to run up and down the last aisles. You sit here and I’ll pick you up on the way back. Then we can go get that lunch.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t say no to a rest.” He sat down on the nearest banquette and waved me away.
When I turned a corner, I pulled my phone back out.
Kate? Call me when you’re on your way back to BH.
Sorry. Connor snuck up on me. That man moves as silently as you do. I had to ditch my phone.
Why?
I didn’t want him to see who I was texting.
Why?
I paused, not knowing how to answer that. Were we a couple? Or did he mean that friends texted, so what was the big deal? He called me his girl... What the hell were the rules for this kind of thing? My phone buzzed again.
Don’t keep Pops out too late. He tires easily.
I won’t. We’re going to lunch in a few and then we’ll drive back. Can we talk about the other stuff later?
Of course. Drive safely and let me know when you get home. I’d like to see you tonight.
I stood for a few moments, lost in thought, drowning in memories of Aiden. Shit. I was supposed to be checking out furniture. I looked up and saw it, the perfect set. It was exactly as I’d pictured it.
I raced back around the corner. “Connor, come look!”
I dragged him to see the set, and we both agreed that it suited my vision. Then we headed to grab something to eat.
&
nbsp; After lunch, we visited Paul Bunyan’s statue and took pictures. When Connor went to the restroom, I pulled out my phone again and texted the picture I’d taken of me with the giant to Aiden.
Look! Your taller, whiskered, ax-weilding twin!
I waited for a response until I saw Connor returning. I felt my phone buzz just as I was dropping it in my pocket. I made a half turn, blocking my phone arm. He’d sent me a pic. I couldn’t wait until later so I turned a little farther, opening my messages and clicking on the photo. It was of Aiden standing in deep snow, laughing, and he had a beard. Damn, how could he still look so gorgeous with half of his face covered in hair? It was bullshit, that’s what it was.
“Should we head back now?”
I turned, dropping my phone back into my pocket and nodding. “Yep. Let’s hit the road.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Aiden
I CHECKED MY PHONE AGAIN. She’d seen the snow photo but hadn’t responded. Maybe beards weren’t a good look for me. I was working in her kitchen, Chaucer at my heels. He had been lying down watching me prepare food before he realized that, unlike Kate, I drop food all the time. Ever since that revelation, he’d been tripping me up, trying to get as close to the potential floor food as possible.
Yes. Technically, I was breaking and entering, but I wanted to make her dinner, and I honestly wasn’t positive the appliances in my sad galley kitchen worked. Plus my apartment was kind of depressing. I hadn’t noticed that before.
I’d stopped at the market and picked up steaks, potatoes and a bag of salad. Since I was hungry, I also picked up chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, and a package of thinly sliced Italian meats. As soon as I pulled the meat from the shopping bag, Chaucer sat down at my side, expectant. I knew I probably wasn’t supposed to give him any, but how was I supposed to resist that face? “Just don’t tell her, okay?”
I held out two pieces of meat, which Chaucer took slowly and gently from my fingers, then swallowed whole in one second flat. “Are there any doggy breath mints around here? We need to cover up your salami breath before Katie gets home.”
I walked over to the pantry and stuck my head in. “Organic dog biscuits? Yeah, we’re going to need to keep this salami thing under wraps, okay?” Chaucer sat near doggy-treat Valhalla, waiting to see if I’d do him a solid. I flipped a biscuit and watched him jump up and snap it out of the air. “I think I just figured out how we’re going to kill time waiting for your mommy.”
After finishing a quick run downtown to pick up a grill—who the hell doesn’t own a grill?—Chaucer and I were hanging out on the porch, me sitting with my feet up on the rail, him running around, catching flying biscuits, when I heard a vehicle pull up. Chaucer tore off around the corner. No barking, so it must have been Katie.
I started jogging around the corner myself. But when I realized I was acting like her overexcited dog, I slowed to a stop and watched her get out of her car. My heart lurched. My woman was coming home, and I was here to meet her. This felt right. Hell, it felt perfect.
“What are you doing out here?” She looked at the front door. “Holy crap, did I leave the back door open? And you stayed here, waiting for me?” She leaned over, hugging Chaucer. “You’re the best boy ever! Hey, why do you smell like biscuits?” She stood up and looked around, spotting me leaning against the corner of the house. She stared at me for a moment, before a slow smile spread across her face. Thank God. That could have been awkward.
“Breaking into my house and bribing my dog, huh?” She walked up the steps toward me, and I waited, content to watch.
“Call a cop.”
She stopped right in front of me, reached out and grabbed my T-shirt, yanking me toward her. “Help, police, help.”
I leaned in, my lips hovering over hers. “What’s the nature of your call?” I grinned. “Ma’am.” I watched her eyes go from soft and hazy to sharp and annoyed. I swooped in to take her mouth before she could protest. I ran my hands beneath her coat, gliding over her hips and down to her perfect ass. I considered writing sonnets to the perfection of her ass as I grabbed the back of her legs and picked her up, hitching her around my waist.
I walked us back around the side of the house, stepping through the open dining room door and then kicking it closed. I’d intended to start cooking dinner when she arrived, but that wasn’t happening, not for a while. I took the stairs to her room two at a time.
Kate
AFTERWARD, AIDEN AND I lay in bed, our legs tangled, our faces inches apart on the same pillow, as we breathed each other’s air and whispered the contents of our hearts. I reached up and traced his lips with my fingertips.
“No secrets, okay?” Aiden said softly. “No hiding, not from ourselves, not from each other. Up-front and honest. I can’t take more lies.”
I felt myself drawing back. “I never lied to—”
He reached for my hand and pulled it to his chest. “Not you.” He shook his head. “You’ve been remarkably honest. Alarmingly so, really.”
I pushed against his chest. “Funny guy.”
He pretended to bite my hand, but then kissed it instead. “I’ve been a miserable bastard for the past year.” His hand settled possessively on my hip. “But then this crazy wind blew through town, clearing my head. You make me happy, Katie.”
“Was it bad?” We were already wrapped around each other, but the look on his face made me want to hold him closer.
His eyes drifted toward the window. “Wedding, ring, tux, church, offer on a little house across town, the whole nine yards.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Perfect.” He popped the p sound, lengthening the word. “She dumped me the day before the wedding. Another richer, more powerful guy waited in the wings.”
My body tensed, remembering what that kind of shame and betrayal felt like. “Who is this brain-dead skank, and where can I find her? I’m good with a golf club. Seriously, I could mess her up for you.”
He grinned. “Settle down, tiger. I’m not putting a contract out on her, but thanks for the offer of assault.” He shook his head, his hand on my back, pulling me imperceptibly closer. “If I’d married her, I wouldn’t be here with you.”
I nodded. “Good point.” My body relaxed into the idea. “Good riddance to people who don’t recognize what they have.”
He pressed a soft kiss on my nose. “Hear, hear.”
“Do you miss her?” I held my breath, afraid of the answer.
“I did. At first. But mostly, I was so damn angry. Eventually the anger took up so much space that I didn’t have room for missing. I was full yet weirdly hollow. I felt like a clueless sap for believing she ever loved me. I refused to allow myself to miss her.” His thumb brushed back and forth over my ribs.
I felt unaccountably blessed that we’d found each other and were willing to try again. I needed to change the subject, though, to get that hurt out of his eyes. “Have you lived in Bar Harbor all these years?”
“Nah.” His finger slid along my jaw and down my throat. “I went to college in Boston, then joined their police force. That was where I met Brian, our friendly neighborhood hacker.”
I shivered at his touch. “Did you like it there?”
He nodded. “Mmm-hmm. I loved Boston, but Maureen was getting married, and Pops was getting older. Mom’s arthritis was getting worse.” He gave a small shrug. “My thoughts were more often in this town. It seemed stupid to stay there when the people I loved lived here.”
“I bet they were happy to get you back.”
He grinned. “That’d probably depend on which day you asked them.”
I let my hand settle on his heart, content to feel it beat. “Police work here is probably different.”
He let out a short chuff of amusement. “You could say that. Very few mob-related crimes or gun deat
hs in Bar Harbor. Unless you count accidental stray bullets during hunting season, and that hasn’t resulted in a death in almost a decade.” His hand spread on my hip, and he pulled me a few inches closer. “What about you? This is a bigger transition for the Cali girl with no family here.” His hand slid up to my waist. “How are you doing?”
“First of all, it’s always California, never Cali.”
His hand slid over my hip and down my leg, pulling it more securely over his body. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
“See that you do.” I felt myself blushing and thanked the darkness he wouldn’t notice. “I’m doing well. Now.”
He leaned in and kissed me. “I’m glad.”
“I didn’t know where else to go, what to do. After... Well, I just needed to get away, to find a home for Chaucer and me. I loved my summers here, and I needed to feel near Gran.”
He pulled me even closer, his warm breath fanned across my chilled skin. I shivered, and he pulled the comforter around my shoulders. “I’m glad you came home.”
I placed my hand on his scruffy cheek and then pulled his shoulder toward me. He rolled over on top of me, kissing me deep and long. He drew back and stared at me, while pulling open my nightstand drawer, indicating the vast collection of condoms. “Now you may explain.”
My hands flew to my face, covering the top half. “Do I hafta?” I felt his lips touch my hands.
“Nope. It just seemed like an interesting story.” He kissed my lips. “And secrets make me crazy, as you know. I obsess over the whys and hows. It makes me a good cop, but an annoying partner.” He paused.
His girl, his partner. Did he mean it? I still wasn’t looking at him, relying on that universal truth that if I couldn’t see him, he couldn’t see me. He kissed me, so I may have been misled about the effectiveness of this strategy.
He nuzzled my arm. “You have a latex deficiency and the doctor prescribed more condoms.”