by Devney Perry
“Dale. And no, I don’t want Father in the middle of this. I decided when I moved here that I wasn’t going to have someone following me around anymore. I want to live a normal life. Besides, I need some time before I can speak to Father again. When he found out that Logan and I had broken up, he said some things to me that were uncalled for.”
“I’m sorry, dear. I wish I could say I was surprised.” She frowned. “Have you spoken to him lately?”
I shook my head. “No, but I talked to Steffie a few days ago.”
Her eyes swung to mine. “I heard that Alesso and I aren’t the only ones engaged.”
“I wasn’t sure if you had heard.”
“Your brother called me this morning to deliver the news.”
“Sorry, Mom. I should have told you.”
She reached out and patted my hand. “Don’t be sorry. Your father and I were over many, many years ago. I’m glad he’s found someone, even if she’s a bit of a tart.”
“That’s my future stepmother you’re talking about,” I teased. “Ugh. That’s not something I ever thought I would have said about my college roommate.”
We both laughed.
“Let’s discuss a much more normal union,” I said. “I’m glad for you and Alesso.”
“Thank you, darling. So am I.” She smiled. “It’s time. Years of battling and I finally managed to divorce your father, and Alesso never faltered through it all. He’s always been by my side and I do love him very much.”
“He’s a good man.”
“One of the best.” She hugged me and I rested my head on her shoulder.
“I’m happy you’re here, Mom.” I smiled when she didn’t let me go. Her tight embrace and the laughter coming from Nick’s kitchen worked miracles to soothe my troubled mind.
Hours later, we waved good-bye from the porch. I felt Nick’s heat at my back a second before his fingers slipped under the hem of my sweater and started drawing circles on my hip.
“Upstairs, Emmy.” Two words and I was hot.
Without delay, we both rushed inside and to his bedroom. My clothes started flying through the air as I raced to undress first so I could watch Nick.
I loved the way he tore off his T-shirt, grabbing it from the nape of his neck and whipping it off his body. That one fluid motion flexed all the muscles of his arms and stomach. When he unfastened his belt, his jeans dipped to just the right place, clinging perfectly to his chiseled hipbones. Teasing me with what was beneath.
But the best part was the way he hooked his thumbs into the band of his boxers and slowly pulled them down. It was magnificent torture.
I held my breath as he pushed the black elastic lower and lower, revealing his thick cock inch by glorious inch. When he finally sprang free, I was practically drooling.
“On your back, Emmy. Spread wide.”
My whole body was aching to be touched. The cool cotton on my back did nothing to dim the fire in my blood.
I needed Nick. He had become as vital to my body as water.
When the condom was in place, Nick kneeled on the bed. His hand was wrapped around his cock and he stroked it slowly. Seeing him touch himself almost pushed me over the edge. He’d have me writhing beneath him in seconds.
While one hand stroked, his other came to me, lightly brushing my skin with his fingers. They trailed up my torso, belly button to sternum. Twice they circled my breasts, carefully avoiding my nipples.
I was squirming and desperate for more. When his fingers finally rolled over a nipple, I inhaled a sharp breath and let it out with a pleading moan.
“Patience,” Nick whispered.
His fingers again started traveling, this time working down my ribs, tickling my side. I closed my eyes, savoring the trail of tingles they left as he dragged them across my hip.
With just the right amount of pressure, Nick’s thumb took over and started circling my clit. Heat erupted through my body as he coaxed the first orgasm out of me. A scream tore through my lips and sound filled the room.
“Fuck, Emmy. That’s so fucking hot,” Nick said. “I love it when you scream.”
My head was pressed back into the bed and my eyes were squeezed shut as every inch of my body vibrated. Just when I felt myself start to come down, Nick grabbed the backs of my knees, jerking my hips into his as he thrust his cock inside.
A second orgasm exploded long and hard as Nick pounded into me with a steady rhythm. Over and over his hips moved like pistons until he planted himself deep and repositioned us. One at a time, he moved my legs up and over his shoulders, the new angle allowing him to sink as far inside my body as he could go.
“Oh god, Nick,” I gasped when he ground his hips against my ass.
He started his thrusts again. It didn’t take either of us long to come together. My orgasm wasn’t as hard or long as the other two had been, but it still left me limp.
Gently lowering one leg and then the other, Nick kept our connection and brought his chest down on mine. The sweat from our bodies mixed as we both panted to calm our racing hearts.
Nick chuckled. “Fuck of a lot better end to the day than the beginning.”
I laughed. “You are not wrong.”
Laughing with Nick after hot sex? Absolutely better.
He settled me on my side and took care of the condom before joining me in bed.
“I like your mom,” Nick said into my hair. His naked body was cradling mine. “I pictured her differently. Not as down to earth.”
“She wasn’t always that way. In the city, she played her part as the wealthy heiress. But Alesso mellows her.”
“He’s a nice guy. That name he calls her, la mia vita, what’s it mean?” he asked.
“It’s Italian for ‘my life.’ ”
“And bella is ‘beautiful’?”
I nodded. Alesso had started calling me bella when I was a teenager. Though it had been strange, getting introduced to my mother’s boyfriend while she had been married to my father, I had adjusted quickly to Alesso being in my life. He was so different than my father. Calm. Patient. Affectionate. He didn’t let my mother get carried away and it was obvious that his love for her ran deep.
“Accurate endearment,” Nick said.
“He’s a bit biased since I look so much like my mother.”
“No. He’s just got eyes.”
I smiled and relaxed further into his arms.
It felt like a lifetime ago that we had been at my house dealing with the break-in. My mom’s visit was perfectly timed. Having her here helped put everything into perspective. If someone was determined to steal my jewelry or fancy heirlooms, what did it matter? I had wonderful people in my life, and the material things were just not important.
And she had been right about my father. He had always made sure we were safe. Maybe calling him and getting his advice wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Never met the guy, but I can’t see your mom with your dad,” Nick said. “Not after everything you’ve told me about him.”
“They never fit. I can’t remember a time when they seemed to enjoy one another’s company. I think she married him because he was ambitious. I know he married her for the prestige of her family name. Why they stayed married is the mystery.”
“At least now she’s found a better fit,” he said.
“Much better.”
“I’m glad they could be here today. Too bad they live so far away.”
“It is. Although Frannie told me in confidence tonight that Mom and Alesso are scoping out the area for potential real estate purposes. When they get married, his immigration status will change and they won’t need to spend so much time in Italy.”
I left out the part of my conversation where Frannie had also mentioned the word “grandchild.” Apparently, Mom and her crew were wagering how long it would take for me to get pregnant. Though it would be nice to see my mother more often, I could do without her pressure to procreate.
“Let’s hope for no drama tomorrow,” Ni
ck said.
“Absolutely. We’ll have to postpone our visit to The Black Bull but at least we can relax tomorrow night. Samuel is making a big dinner so you won’t have to cook for me.”
“I like cooking for you,” he said. “But I am interested to see how he makes that trout. I’ve never gotten the hang of fish.”
“Well, after you learn, you can start adding salmon into the rotation. It’s a favorite.”
“Whatever your heart desires, my sweet Emmy.”
You. Just you.
Another spontaneous and unguarded Nick thought. Though I had yet to figure out how to stop them, at least they were all true.
“We come back again soon, bella.” Alesso pulled me into his arms and I smiled against his chest, enjoying the sound of his thick accent and the smell of his rich cologne. “I like your Nick.”
“Me too.”
“Give her up, Alesso. It’s my turn,” Mom said.
Rolling my eyes, I gave him one last squeeze, then let my mother smother me before her crew departed for the airport and returned to Italy. We’d had a wonderful week with them, and despite my mother’s attempts, their visit hadn’t ruffled my feathers. I was sad to see them go.
Every night for dinner, Nick and I had gone to their chalet. Samuel had gone all out experimenting with the local foods, and every meal had been delicious.
Mom, Frannie and I had spent a lot of time visiting. They had listened intently to stories about my students and my worries for Mason Carpenter.
Alesso had instantly taken to Nick. He’d been enamored with how much Nick knew about the mountain trails. Each night, Nick had drawn him a map for his next morning’s snowshoeing adventure.
Frannie had a packed agenda for the trip. Every afternoon, the group had explored the area. They’d soaked in the hot springs, strolled downtown and even drove over to Bozeman to visit a whiskey distillery.
And one afternoon, the four of them had surprised me with a visit to my classroom. I was not the only one who loved Alesso’s accent. The kids had practically attacked him. They’d peppered him with questions about where he’d come from and why he’d sounded different.
Yesterday, we had all enjoyed a Saturday traveling through Yellowstone. Frannie had arranged for us to take a private snow coach to Old Faithful for their last excursion in Montana. I had never visited a national park before and the experience had been like none other.
The landscape was spectacular. Glittering snow had blanketed the hills. Hot pools and small boiling streams melted the valleys. We’d spotted elk, buffalo and a token grizzly bear in the open fields between evergreen forests. Old Faithful, named for its predictability, had been right on time. The geyser’s water had sprayed tall and white against the cloudless blue sky.
The next time Mom visited, we were planning on going again.
“Stay safe, Emmeline,” Mom said before one last hug.
The only shadow on an otherwise perfect week was Jess’s update about the break-in. No vehicles had passed the downtown stoplight’s camera and he was out of leads.
Nick had arranged for my door handle to be repaired and deadbolt locks put in on all the exterior doors. He was also installing cameras around my home and property. But the added security did little to erase my fears.
“Are you going to call your father?” Mom asked.
“No. I thought about it but decided against it. I trust the local sheriff. He’s doing all he can and the last thing he needs is Father sticking his nose into the investigation,” I said.
“All right, dear. If you think it’s for the best,” she sighed.
“I’ll be fine.”
Her head swiveled to Nick and then back to me before smiling. “Yes. You will.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too. Call me next week.”
As my family drove away, Nick pulled me into his side. I concentrated on breathing in the fresh mountain air so I could fight back tears.
“You okay?”
I nodded. “I’m glad they decided to buy that chalet. It will be nice to see them more often.”
Luckily, the chalet that they had rented was also for sale. Mom and Alesso had immediately jumped on the purchase, and within a month, the place would be theirs. After they built a home on the property for Frannie and Samuel, they would be back for an extended stay.
“What do you feel like doing today?” For the first time in weeks, we had no plans. No six-year-old birthday parties. No family visitors. No Montana explorations. Nothing.
So I had the perfect answer to his question. “You.”
Two weeks later, I was rushing to the spa to meet Gigi and Maisy for our girls’ night. Maisy had postponed our original date because Coby had been sick, and unfortunately, they’d rescheduled for a night where I wasn’t going to be good company.
Tomorrow was Nick and my anniversary and it was consuming my headspace.
I sank into a massive black chair between Gigi and Maisy and plastered a smile on my face. Maybe this was just what I needed to get my mind off Nick.
And ten years.
I had been legally married to a man for ten years and had only spent months in his presence. How could I possibly act normal tomorrow? I considered faking sickness and hiding out in the motel.
“Emmeline? Are you okay?” Gigi asked. She had been visiting with Maisy while I’d been lost in my own thoughts.
“Oh. Yes. I’m so sorry. I’ve been an unfocused mess all day.”
“Want to talk about it?” Maisy asked.
“That’s okay. I hate to burden you both with my trivial problems.”
“That’s what friends are for. Besides, we’re out of juicy gossip. Spill,” Gigi said.
This was probably the best place as any to get advice. “Did Nick tell you how we met and got married?” I asked.
“Some of it but he probably left out all the good stuff,” Maisy said.
Twenty minutes later, they knew the whole Vegas story.
“What a jackass!” Gigi yelled. “You know, Nick told Jess and me about what happened, but he definitely gave us the abbreviated version. Now that I know the whole story, the next time I see Nick he’s getting a smack in the head.”
I laughed and genuinely smiled for the first time all day. It felt nice to have her on my side.
“So why have you been a mess today?” Maisy asked.
“Tomorrow is our anniversary. It feels weird to celebrate and I don’t think Nick even remembers. He’s been completely normal all week and hasn’t mentioned a thing or brought it up. Which is actually making it worse. What should I do?”
“You guys are finally back together! You have to do something. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Go out to a nice dinner, maybe? No, the theater! That’s where you guys had your first kind of date, wasn’t it? How perfect! Go there,” Gigi said.
“You can’t listen to her,” Maisy said. “She’s become a hopeless romantic since meeting Jess. You should have seen her before they got together. Like, totally content without a man in her life. Now she’s on a mission to make sure her friends are all set up.”
“She might be right,” Gigi muttered.
“I’ll think about it. Thanks for listening,” I said.
Even though I wasn’t any closer to sorting out my head, it was nice to share my burdens with friends. Besides, if Nick and I just spent a normal night together, it would be better than the last nine anniversaries.
This anniversary, I could at least have sex with my husband.
“Nick!” Rowen Cleary shouted from her desk. The kids were supposed to be tracing the letter T but now they were all staring at Nick in the doorway.
“Hey, kids,” Nick called. “Are you guys learning a lot today?”
“Yeah!” they all shouted in unison.
“Hello, class,” Rich called, following Nick into the classroom.
“Hello, Mr. Garcia,” they said in chorus.
“What’s going on?” I asked Nick. “Is everything okay?”
He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, which elicited a chorus of “Ohhs” and “Ewws” from my class. “Everything’s great. Mr. Garcia is taking over for the rest of the day. You’re coming with me.”
“What? Why? Is this about the break-ins?”
“Nope.”
“Ms. Austin, would you mind running through your lesson plan with me? I’ll try to keep on track until you get back Monday.”
“Oh, sure, Mr. Garcia,” I said and outlined the rest of my Friday afternoon lesson plan.
“I think I can manage. You two have a nice weekend,” he said before Nick dragged me from the room and to his truck.
“What’s going on, Nick?” I asked after fastening my seatbelt.
“Patience,” he said.
His cavalier attitude was annoying and I hated secrets, but nothing was wrong. He wouldn’t be so smug if there were a problem. “Is this why you insisted on driving me to work this morning? So you could kidnap me?”
“Yep.”
“Another one-word answer. Do you think you could string a few more of them together and actually respond in a full sentence? Preferably one where you tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“Enjoy the suspense, Emmy.”
I frowned as butterflies started flying in my belly. This had to be about our anniversary, right? Why else would he be trying to surprise me?
I despised surprises and the angst that came with them. Nervous energy made me queasy, not excited. I was the type of person who read the last chapter of a book before the first, just to make sure it had a happy ending.
My stomach swirled as Nick drove out of town. After a few miles of highway, he pulled off and onto a dirt road that cut through an open field. The snow on the ground had started to melt but there were still large patches of it in the dips and curves of the plains.
“Nick.” I gasped when he turned past a grove of trees and I realized our destination.
In the middle of a large clearing was a hot-air balloon tethered to the ground. The balloon was made of red fabric with large orange and yellow suns patterned into the center row. The pilot was standing in the basket, monitoring the burner.