I Love It: 10 Intense Stories to Keep the Passion Alive (Shameless Book Bundles 6)

by Saffron Daughter

“Not everything’s a joke, Patrick.”

  “I’m not a fortune teller, Cate. I can’t promise that this will be all sunshine and multiple orgasms. I can promise though, that I’ll give it my best, even when you think I’m to the point of annoying. There’s two people in relationship and we’ll make it work. Together.”

  Sunshine and multiple orgasms sounded rather nice, but the assurance of his commitment was more than she’d ever had with Paul. Her head hurt and it wasn’t from lack of sleep, but over thinking things. She took a deep breath, held it and then let it out and relaxed as her decision settled on her shoulders.

  She stood and moulded both her hands to caress his jaw. He was completely still as she kissed him, marking the promise she was giving in return. She ran her fingers into his hair and pushed his head back, pulling his delectable lower lip between her teeth. He stood and broke the kiss. Then seized her by the back of the neck and answered her kiss with a fierce one of his own. She sank into him and he held her. Tucked her head under his chin and held her and made her feel precious.

  “Right, now that we’ve got that settled, I’m going to kiss you again, then you’re going to make me the biggest coffee you have while I raid the pastries shelf. I’m starving!”

  CHAPTER SIX

  It’s a STRIKE!

  Cate spun around from the screen at the local ten pin bowling alley and pumped her fist in the air. For a first timer, she was either having an obscene amount of luck, or as Patrick said, she was just that good. She high fived Olivia and Carolyn as she sat back down opposite their other halves and winked at Patrick as he picked up his ball.

  “Come on, Bo Peep. You can do it.”

  Patrick gave her a look that promised retribution as Carolyn choked on her drink. “Oh my god. I’d totally forgotten about that. How did you weasel that out of him?”

  “Your grandmother told me actually.”

  Reaching for her drink again, Carolyn eyed her questioningly. “I thought you couldn’t make it to the picnic last weekend?”

  What picnic? Patrick hadn’t mentioned a family picnic. She damped down the spike of apprehension at what that could possibly mean. It had taken nearly two months to get to a level of trust with Patrick, and if he hadn’t mentioned it, there was a good reason other than him not wanting her to meet his family.

  “No, actually it was at Olivia’s wedding. Speaking of which…” Not wanting to seem like she was digging for details, she quickly turned to Olivia and changed the subject. “How was your honeymoon?”

  “Glorious!” Cate let her friend distract her from the uneasy feeling Carolyn had unwittingly bestowed. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed and let the feeling go, trusting that Patrick was nothing like Paul.

  “Cate, you’re up.” Broken out of her musings by Olivia’s new husband, she jumped up and went to the rack of balls to make her selection. Tossing up between the pink or purple, she felt Patrick come up behind her. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he reached out and played with her fingers selecting her ball.

  “You know, this gives me wicked ideas.” He whispered in her ear as he continued to stroke her fingers.

  “What does?” she said breathlessly.

  “The thought of my three fingers, held just like this, fitting snuggly into tight holes. Yeah, it’s enough to have me hard in an instant.”

  She wanted to turn around and beg him to do it to her right here, right now. No matter how funny and charming he was, when it came to pleasure games, he was all seriousness. He’d shown her passion like no other and the boundaries she’d once thought she’d never cross had become a thing of the past.

  “If it was anyone but my sister over there, I’d be dragging you out of here so fast to get home to that caramel sauce you waved in front of me as we walked out the door.”

  Another wave of lust flooded her system as she thought about what they were going to do when it was polite enough to say goodnight. “You’re just doing this to put me off my game, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m doing this to make you as horny as me. But, yeah, if it makes me loose by a bit less…” he shrugged. Slapping her on the butt, he turned and went back to their group.

  Deciding on the purple, she shook her head and stepped up to launch her ball, wishing it was her insecurities she was knocking down as well as the pins.

  *****

  “Hey sexy, can I tempt you to taste my delicious lunch special?”

  Cate stopped midway through cleaning the coffee machine to see who was lucky enough to inspire Millie’s awful flirting.

  “Now that’s a temping offer right there, but I’m after something even tastier.”

  Coming around the bench, she went straight into Patrick’s arms and grinned back at Millie. “Stop flirting with my boyfriend. He likes it too much.”

  Patrick answered her smart remark with a searing kiss. One so hot, she was glad the place was as good as empty.

  “Oh, you two need to get a room. Or I do.”

  Breaking apart, Cate smirked up at Patrick. “I can’t help it, it’s his animal magnetism.”

  “You know it, smarty pants. Listen, I have to cancel tomorrow night. Some work stuff has come up, and I’ll be snowed under for the next few days so I thought I’d come down and get my Catey fix to tide me over until Sunday.”

  She tried, and knew she failed, to hide her disappointment. “Oh, okay. I guess we’ll just reschedule dinner with your parents another night.”

  He gave her a smooch on the nose. “Sounds great. Let me have a chat to mum and see when they’re free. I’ll call you later.”

  “Want me to make you a coffee?”

  Pulling his vibrating phone from his pocket, he looked at the screen before stepping back and running a hand through his hair. “Can I have it to go? Sorry babe, I can’t stay. I have to return this call ASAP.”

  With a heavy sigh, Cate leaned on the bench and watched him pace as he made his phone call.

  “Here you go” said Millie as she put two coffees on the bench. “I was making you guys one anyway, doesn’t take much to tip one in a take-away cup.”

  “Thanks Millie.” While Patrick was still occupied with his phone, Cate added the sugar to hers and stirred.

  “Isn’t that, like, the third time he’s cancelled dinner with his folks?”

  “Mmmhmm.” As if she needed that reminder. Millie quietly hummed as she walked away, leaving Cate trying to dispel the lingering uneasy feeling in her gut. Patrick had shown he was different in the last couple of months. They had so much more than she and Paul had ever had—more chemistry, more understanding, more depth. A real connection.

  She sighed and took a sip of her coffee. She was letting her overactive imagination lead her down the garden path. The family was probably run off their feet with preparations for Carolyn’s wedding which was just weeks away. The wedding she was yet to be invited to. Grrrr, stop it. Just stop it.

  “Hey, babe. Sorry about that.” Patrick snapped her out of her worries and planted a kiss on her lips. Picking up his coffee, he pocketed his phone again. “I have to get back to the office, but I’ll try and call you tonight before you go to bed. Or better yet, why don’t I call you when you’re in bed and I can relax you?”

  “I’d rather you in bed with me, but if I can only hear your voice, I’ll take what I can get.”

  Pulling her flush against him, Patrick reminded her with a kiss why her heart was melting with each passing day. Her racing pulse and throbbing pussy were normal reactions when Patrick touched her. What was new, was the flicker of her heart when he looked at her with his adorable smile. Or, like now as she watched him step into the sunlight, the rolling sea in her stomach when he walked away as she hoped he was starting to feel the stirrings of love as well.

  *****

  Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, almost as bright as Cate’s mood. She had leapt out of bed before her alarm, knowing that before this day was done, she would see her man again. It had only been a few days, but his absenc
e had been like a pebble in her shoe. Annoyingly noticeable pretty much all the time. Being apart had cemented one thing in her mind however, she was totally in love with Patrick Garrett. He had come into her life and renewed her faith in men, trust and love.

  She hummed along with the radio as she pulled a tray of banana bread from the oven. She basted it with honey syrup, watching the light golden-sweet liquid drip from her spoon and wondered if she could put it on the special menu she’d prepared for Patrick. A Honey Catey Cake. Giggling to herself, she startled when she heard the back door close.

  “I figured I’d find you here.” Millie said as she unhooked her apron from the back of the door.

  “I know I’m here a bit early, but why is it weird that I’m here on a Sunday morning?” Cate asked, bewildered by Millie’s tone and the look of dread on her face. “What’s happened?”

  Millie froze with the arms beside her head, before slowly putting the apron in place. “Didn’t you get my message? Or look at the paper?”

  Cate shook her head. She remembered tossing the paper on the desk after she walked in, but hadn’t given it a second thought. Millie walked over to where the paperwork piled up and picked up the morning edition. Thumbing through the back pages until she got to the page she wanted, she folded the paper in half and tossed it on the bench in front of Cate.

  “I messaged you when I saw this. It’s the fifth time I’ve seen it and I still can’t believe it.”

  Cate stared down, mouth agape, at the half page photograph dominating the society page. A photo of her ex Paul with his arm around Patrick, both with mile wide grins and drinks in their hands. Cate blinked to clear her vision and make sure she was seeing what she was seeing. Accompanying the picture was an article detailing the events of last night. An awards dinner to honour the elite of the Sydney Business Chamber which included a special presentation to Patrick Garrett for his innovative business incentives which reduced the effects of the global GFC.

  The shock that radiated from the centre of her being made her legs shake and air whoosh from her lungs.

  Impossible. It couldn’t have been a photo taken from last night. There was no way Patrick would completely shut her out like this. Hearing the back door shut again, she looked up to see Millie walk in with another two newspapers in hand.

  “There’s more of the story in the Herald. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Apparently, all the Garrett’s came out for Patrick’s big night and he didn’t lack for female companionship or the attentions of, you guessed it, Paul Jones.” Millie came over and squeezed her arm, “I’m sorry to say it sweetie, but—”

  “Yeah, I know. Quack quack.” Cate’s heart started breaking as she read the full page article about the two day event, culminating in the awards presentation. Something like this just wouldn’t have come up on the Tuesday before. No. He had known about this for some time and had chosen to keep her in the dark. How could I be so stupid?

  The part of her that was screaming to go to Patrick, demand an explanation was being slowly drowned out by the reasonable part of her that knew she’d been duped again. Promised her dream, only to have it whisked out from under her. But this time, she had a tight grip on the rug.

  “Do you want me to call Emma and see if she can fill in for a few hours today?” Millie said sympathetically.

  “No. I’ll be fine.” She had to be fine. She was not going to fall to pieces because she had yet again been betrayed by love. She’d do what she did best, making her business succeed, then deal with the emotional fallout later. With determination fuelled by her hurt and anger flowing at turbo speed through her veins, she turned the radio as loud as it would go and got to baking.

  *****

  At midday, Cate turned off her phone. She’s practically sat on it all day in case Patrick called, proving that there was still a ray of hope that this was all a silly misunderstanding and her heart wasn’t under threat of explosion. But when the lunch rush had started and still no phone call, email or text, she was willing to admit, that ray of hope had disappeared. Once bitten, twice shy, but twice bitten meant three times as pissed off.

  “Here. How about you take that scowl that’s scaring the customers and put these in the sink?”

  Cate looked down at the bucket of dirty cups and plates as she took it from Millie and huffed.

  Dumping the tub in the sink, she turned but stopped before she got three steps away. Standing out there, shooting daggers at the door, willing him to come in was not the way to handle this. There were things that had to be done that she had to concentrate on right now, not what she was going to say to Patrick when she did see him. Filling the sink, she turned the radio off so that she could hear if Millie needed a hand.

  Why did it have to happen to her? Did she have a neon sign that attracted rich playboys that only had heartbreak in their resume to apply for the position of significant other? The kicker was that she had really believed Patrick was so different from Paul. That their attraction was deeper than appearances or status.

  The clouds rolled in and the sky darkened as she stared out of the window. Fitting that her mood, which had radiated with the morning sunshine, was now dampened like the leaves on the trees. Pulling her apron off and hanging it on its hook, she walked out to see how Millie was doing. Seeing only a few people scattered around the tables and the rain getting heavier outside, she started assembling boxes for the leftover cakes and muffins.

  “I’m going to close up in about half an hour, Millie. No one’s coming out in that rain and it looks pretty set in.”

  “Sounds good. There’s a mud cake here with my name on it and George Clooney waiting for me at home. Want to grab your own muffin and come and watch a movie marathon with me tonight?”

  Cate concentrated on the boxes so she didn’t burst out in tears. She might be out of luck with men, but in friends she had struck a goldmine. “Thanks, but I think I just need to be alone tonight. Try and sort some things out.”

  “Are you going to call him?”

  “I really don’t know, Millie.” Turning around, she leaned against the bench. “There is a part of me that wants to yell and scream at him before kicking him square in the balls.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m hearing ya.” Millie said, putting her hand on her cocked hip.

  “But, as mad as I am, I’m just so confused. I don’t understand why he didn’t tell me. I know I’m not a supermodel, or rich enough to make any lists, but I thought he was more than that. We were more than that.” Wiping a hand down her face, she let out a frustrated sigh. “And, that just pisses me off more. I shouldn’t have to meet some standard before it’s acceptable to show me off in public.”

  “Of course not! Cate, don’t second guess yourself. You don’t need to change from the wonderful person you are to please a guy, ever. You are you, and if he doesn’t appreciate how awesome you are, then he’s a fuckwit.”

  “I know. That’s why I hate that he’s made me feel this way.” Making a sound of frustration, she gathered up the last of the left overs. “I’ll sort this stuff out in the kitchen, so do you want to give everyone the fifteen minute warning and shut up out here?”

  “Yeah, sure. Make sure you save one of those muds for me.”

  Walking toward the kitchen, Cate tried to picture a sunset. Or a puppy. Something to calm her down before she crushed the food in her hand to crumbs. Maybe she should call him. True, there was no guarantee what would come out of her mouth, but she had to answer the questions that were swirling around and around making her bite her nails down to stubs.

  Ditching the food, she went over to the desk and found her phone. Turning it on, she waited for it to ding with a message or missed call. When it didn’t come, she dropped the phone and pushed the chair back from the desk. She must have stared at it for at least five minutes. What if he didn’t answer? Tapping her fingers on the desk, she heard Millie’s voice come loud and clear from the main room.

  “It’s nearly three o’clock in the afternoon and y
ou look like shit, I’m guessing you had quite the night last night.”

  Considering what she’d said and the way she’d said it, there could be only one person who’d walked in. Cate was torn. Did she race out there and demand an explanation? Did she play it cool and see if he would bring it up? Only one way to find out. Grabbing the paper on her way, she walked into the main room and saw the anger in Millie’s stance and the confusion written all over Patrick’s face.

  “Uh, hello to you, too. Is Cate around today?”

  Millie’s face changed to a polite mask. “Actually, we’re closing a little early, so anything you order will have to be to go. So, what can I get for you today?”

  Hiding behind the coffee machine, Cate saw Patrick look at Millie like she’d suddenly grown two heads.

  “How about I grab a coffee, then go find Cate?”

  Heart beating a million miles a minute, Cate came out of hiding and tossed the folded newspaper in front of him “How about some reading material while you wait? It has all the highlights from the big events around town.”

  Patrick froze and with only a fleeting glance at the paper swallowed audibly. “I didn’t realise they’d run it in today’s paper.”

  That was it? Seriously? He didn’t care what it meant for them, just when his story had been printed? This wasn’t going to be pretty. Turning to Millie, she squeezed her hand. “Thanks for your help today, Millie. Just lock the door on your way out.”

  They stood across the bench staring at each other while Millie grabbed her stuff and, with a squeeze on Cate’s crossed arms, left them alone.

  “It’s not what it looks like.” Wisely, Patrick didn’t move forward or lay on the charm.

  “Really? So you were at knitting club were you?”

  “It’s not what you think.” Patrick shook his head and picked up the paper.

  Cate threw her hands in the air before unleashing her anger. “How can I think any different? I’ve been through this before. The avoidance of me meeting your parents, blowing me off to party with the important people. I know about the family picnic I supposedly couldn’t make. Oh, but that’s right, you didn’t even ask me. What about Carolyn’s wedding? Was I going to score an invite to that? Or was I only acceptable because I was the hired help?” Her hands were shaking, her whole body vibrating with anger, but she didn’t break eye contact with him. “I was just the flavour of the month and now you’ll move on to someone appropriate.”