“Who’s going to Missoula?” His mom now stood at the table with two menus in her hand.
“We are,” said Flynn. “Emily wants to try knitting something for the Shane and Lacey’s baby, don’t suppose you’ve got time to teach her?”
“I can do it,” said Natalie.
Wow, a wonderful woman offering to teach a girl with special needs a new skill.
“Thank you. I know she’ll be happy to think someone’s going to teach her. By the way, Mom, this is Natalie Stevens who’s from Florida and in town to look for a vacation home. Natalie, this is my mother, Marie.”
His mom reached across and shook Natalie’s hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here,” said Natalie.
“Can I get you some coffee?” she asked.
“That would be great.”
“And you can look over the menu, but I’m guessing my boy here knows what he wants already.” She headed toward the counter
“This is a cozy place. I just love it,” said Natalie.
“Mom bought it about ten years ago after the previous owner passed away. It’s perfect for her because it keeps her out of trouble.”
He raised his voice so she could hear the last few words. She walked back with two mugs of coffee and put them down.
“The only trouble I get into is sometimes not ordering enough eggs or milk.”
Flynn winked at Natalie, and she smiled.
“So what will it be for both of you?”
“My usual,” said Flynn, handing her the menu.
“And for you honey?”
“Eggs, bacon, and toast.”
“And how do you like the eggs cooked?”
“Scrambled.”
“Okay then, I’ll get this order under way.” She walked back to the kitchen.
“Does your mom run this place all by herself?”
“Lacey, my sister-in-law worked her when she first arrived in town and still does now and then. And Emily stops by and helps out Mom which is great for both of them,” said Flynn.
“And I take it she likes it,” said Natalie before taking a sip of her coffee.
“Oh yes she does. She likes talking to the customers and she’s a great sales lady. I know half the people leave here with cakes and cookies they didn’t really want, but she has a way of talking them into those extra calories.”
Natalie laughed and he smiled. She had dimples when she laughed. Emily did too and he hadn’t realized it until he’d seen them on Natalie. How strange was that? This lady was opening his eyes to all sorts of things.
His mother brought over their meal and put the plates down in front of them.
“Oh wow, this is a lot of food. I might not need lunch.”
“Well, you better need dinner because if you’re going to teach my daughter how to knit you’re invited to a meal at my house, and you can meet my older brother Rory too,” said Flynn.
****
Flynn was a sweetheart.
He was also the sexiest man she’d ever seen. A real cowboy with a hat and boots to prove it. And not to mention the tight jeans. She hadn’t thought about the whole men and dating thing for ages, but he’d brought it to the forefront of her mind. She hadn’t been eavesdropping to be nosy, but she hadn’t been able to close her ears to Flynn and his mom talking when he’d gone to pay for their meals.
“Pretty girl and you’re all dressed up. Please tell me you’re going to take her on a date,” said his mom.
“I already did. I bought her breakfast.”
She’d slapped his arm. “On a proper one. Maybe to some nice restaurant. You know I want to see you happy again.”
“I am happy.”
“With a woman sort of happy.”
“I’ve invited her to the house for a meal and I’ll work my way up to the restaurant bit, okay?”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
Natalie liked him. Flynn obviously liked her.
She squeezed her eyes tight shut. She hadn’t counted on liking Emily’s dad in that sort of way. In fact, it was the last thing she thought would happen. And now it looked like he was going to ask her out.
Maybe she should be honest with him. Tell him who she really was but insist he not tell his daughter about Natalie’s true identity until she was ready.
No, she couldn’t do it.
She realized now that she needed to get to know both of them much better before springing that sort of thing on them. Putting the car into the ditch might have been for the best. No one could walk up to someone’s house, knock on their door, and say surprise I’m your birth mother.
She glanced at the clock on the car’s dashboard. She’d told Flynn she’d drive back to their place at 6:00 p.m. for dinner. She had mixed emotions about it. Fear that she’d give herself away and blurt out the truth. Emily would hate her and she’d go home a broken person. Nope, she had to keep it together. The more they go to know each other, the easier it would be for everyone when she revealed who she was.
Turning into the driveway, she spotted another truck besides Flynn’s parked there. She turned off the ignition and took two deep breaths, the way she often did when she was preparing to make a court appearance on behalf of one of her clients. Actually, she didn’t know what was worse. Going inside, getting involved deeper in their lives, or speaking to a judge. Right now it seemed the former.
Natalie got out of the car before she chickened out completely and headed back to the safety of her motel. She walked to the front door thinking that it wasn’t only Emily she was excited about seeing again, but Flynn too.
She rang the bell and a man that looked like him, but a little older, answered it.
“Hi, you must be Natalie. I’m Rory, Flynn’s brother. Come on in”
He stuck out his hand and she shook it. He had a firm grip and calloused hands that felt a lot like Flynn’s.
“He’s just putting the finishing touches to the dinner.”
Natalie followed him through to the kitchen where Flynn was adding lettuce to a large glass bowl.
“Hi,” he said turning and smiling.
“Hi. Anything I can help you with?”
“No, I think I have it all under control.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” asked Rory.
“A soda would be great.”
“Let’s see I think we have orange or lime.”
“Lime’s perfect.”
Natalie looked around but didn’t see or hear Emily.
“Emily not helping you out?”
Flynn shook his head. “She’s having a time out until dinner’s ready. She had what I call one of her moments.”
Rory handed her the soda. She took it and perched herself up on the bar stool, watching Flynn slice tomatoes for the salad. “One of her moments?” asked Natalie. She hoped he wasn’t referring to anything that was physically wrong with her. That would break her heart to think her baby was suffering in any way.
“One of the kids at school knocked paint over Emily’s skirt and well, she’s a wonderful kid, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes she has a short fuse and I had to go pick her up and she screamed the whole way home. She then threw her shoes against the wall when we got into the house.”
Natalie bit her lip. One thing she’d read online about Down syndrome was that some children got frustrated in certain situations. Raising Emily all by himself couldn’t have been easy for Flynn.
“In fact, Rory, why don’t you go fetch her now we’re ready to eat. Natalie you want to sit over there.” He pointed to the table that sat in front of the window.
Natalie stood, walked over to it and sat. She saw Rory turning the corner of the kitchen with Emily in tow.
“Hi Emily,” said Natalie.
“Hi.” She slid into the seat opposite her and folded her arms over her chest with a distant pout. “Can I come back to the motel with you?”
Natalie looked up, thrown by the request. Oh how she’d loved to have her do that. The two of
them together. Her getting to know her daughter.
“I’m the bad daddy tonight,” said Flynn, setting down a platter of what looked like homemade, and perfectly grilled hamburgers, in the middle of the table.
“You wouldn’t let me see my calf,” she said pointing to him. She stomped her foot and it shook the table.
“Hey, hey, young lady. Continue like that and you’ll be eating your supper alone in your room. And what will Natalie think about you?”
I’d love her no matter what she did.
Flynn brought over some buns and a basket of French fries while Rory carried ketchup and steak sauce to the table and both men sat.
“I’m not going to talk to you,” said Emily crossing her arms over her chest again.
Natalie saw her lower lips quiver. Was she going to cry? She so wanted to comfort her, but it wasn’t her business. She was a bystander not a parent. She had to keep remembering that.
“Then I guess it will be just me and Natalie going to Missoula tomorrow to buy knitting supplies.”
“I’m coming too,” said Emily.
“Not if you don’t stop pouting and eat your dinner, you’re not.”
“Wow, you’re going to be missing out on things big time,” said Rory.
Natalie had to bite her lip to prevent herself from laughing when Emily quickly picked up her fork and began eating the burger Rory had placed on her plate.
“You want more good news?” Flynn asked her.
“What?” asked Emily.
“Natalie’s going to teach you how to knit.”
Emily looked at her. She was sure she saw Jon’s eyes looking back at her and she had to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. What would he think of Emily? He’d love her too, she knew he would.
“I’m going to make baby stuff,” she said.
“Did Flynn tell you that our youngest brother and his wife are having a baby?” asked Rory.
“Yes, I did hear that,” said Natalie.
“He’s going to be my cousin,” said Emily pointing to herself.
“What if it’s a she?” asked Rory.
Emily shook her head. “It’s a boy.”
Flynn winked at Natalie.
“So Emily, apart from spilled paint what did you do at school today?” asked Rory, taking more salad.
“We did some singing, and then we played basketball.”
“Wow, I wish I was at school again,” said Rory. “All I did was work, work, work.”
“You like school?” Natalie asked her.
She shrugged. “It’s okay. I get to be with my friends.”
“You must have done lots of studying to be a lawyer,” said Flynn.
“Oh yeah, more than I ever really wanted to do.”
“So why did you choose law?” asked Rory.
“My father’s an attorney, and both my grandfathers were too so I suppose as they didn’t have a grandson, it was up to me to continue the tradition.”
Natalie watched Emily listening to her, twisting a lock of her hair as she did so. I’m talking about your family, your grandparents, great grandparents, but you don’t know it.
“I’m full,” said Emily. “Can I go and see the calf and take Natalie with me?”
“Honey, it’s dark out there and the calf needs to sleep and so do you if we’re going to Missoula tomorrow.”
“Pleeeeease.”
Flynn shook his head.
Rory put the napkin down on his plate. “How about I take her out to see it. I have to get home anyway.”
Emily jumped up and threw her arms around Rory’s neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“And Natalie can see it some other time because it’s messy out there,” said Flynn. He mouthed the word, poop which made Natalie smile.
“Ten minutes tops and then back to the house you come,” said Flynn.
“You hear that, the clock’s ticking, so get your coat missy,” said Rory.
Emily ran into the hallway as Rory stood.
“It was nice meeting you, Natalie and I hope to see you again.”
“I hope so too.”
Emily tugged on her uncle’s hand. “Hurry. I got ten minutes.”
Rory raised both his eyebrows at them as he was almost dragged out of the room.
Flynn stood and started to clear away the plates.
“Here let me help you,” said Natalie.
They carried the dishes over to the sink and Flynn opened the dishwasher and began to rinse the plates under the running water. Natalie passed him one to wash and their fingertips brushed. They stopped what they were doing and simply stood looking into one another’s eyes. They were so beautiful. They held her spellbound. She was so mesmerized by it that she didn’t see him leaning toward her until his lips were on hers. She closed her eyes. It had been a long time since she’d been kissed. He pulled her in close, crushing his body into hers. She put her arms around his shoulders and relaxed into his body.
His erection stabbed her belly as the room whirled around her. She felt like her feet had lifted off the ground. She hadn’t felt like this since…
Since the first time she’d kissed Jon all those years ago. And now even her pussy responded by feeling heavy and achy with a need to be filled.
A slopping sound, and then water splashing on their feet, made them pull away. The sink was overflowing.
“Here let me get that,” said Natalie.
They both went to the floor with tea towels at the same time. He leaned over and kissed her again. How could this be happening? Her falling for Emily’s father. Her kissing him. It all had to be a dream. A very nice dream, but one all the same.
“Daddy.”
They pulled away again when they heard Emily’s voice in the hallway.
“Yes, honey we’re in here doing dishes,” called Flynn.
They stood, each giving one another side way glances as Emily stood before them, out of breath, her plump cheeks red blotchy from being outside in the cold.
“Uncle Rory said to tell you he’s put more hay in for the calf as it’s cold tonight.”
“Okay, honey. And now say goodnight to Natalie and off you go to bed.”
“Night Natalie.”
“Goodnight, sweet dreams.”
She so wanted to kiss her and hug her but had to fight the urge.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called after her. She turned to Flynn. “And I really should be going, but thank you for the meal.”
“I’ll walk you out to your car,” he said.
Flynn got her coat down from the peg in the hallway and held it for her. He grabbed his jacket, slung it around his shoulders and opened the front door.
“The roads around here aren’t well lit. Will you be able to find your way back in the dark?” he asked when they got to the driveway.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Natalie,” he said putting his hand on her arm. “You’re not leaving suddenly because of what happened in the kitchen are you?”
That was exactly the reason. Not that she hadn’t enjoyed it, but right now so many things were going through her head that she needed time to process it all.
“No, no, I’m just tired.”
“Good, because maybe it was wrong of me to…”
She leaned over and kissed him, setting her hand on his cheek as she did so.
“Never, ever regret something like that.”
She smiled and got into her car.
Chapter Seven
Flynn glanced at Emily as they drove toward the motel to collect Natalie the following morning. He smiled remembering the night before all too well. The unexpected kiss with the woman he’d just met. The way his heartbeat speeded up when he’d held her body close to his own. The rush of blood throughout his body, but especially in his groin. He hadn’t felt anything quite like that in what seemed like a lifetime ago. This morning he felt like a plant that had been left to die, no water, no sunlight. Dry and decaying, but then some kind soul had come alo
ng and began tending to it again. Natalie made him feel like he was coming back to life.
Emily reached over and turned on the radio and began humming along. His daughter was one smart cookie. She’d noticed the lipstick smudged near his lips as soon as he’d walked into her room to say goodnight after Natalie had driven away. She’d also pointed out that it was the same color as Natalie’s. He’d blushed from the neck upwards feeling like a teenager caught by his parents.
That sort thing usually didn’t make feel uncomfortable, but with Natalie it somehow felt different. He’d only just met the young woman. And yes, she probably was a good fifteen years younger than him, but he was already smitten. Why had he thought of that word? Surely it was only his mother’s generation who’d used it. But smitten pretty much summed up how he felt.
“Can we eat lunch in Missoula?” asked Emily, suddenly stopping her humming.
“I think that’s a great idea,” said Flynn as he pulled the truck into the motel parking lot.
“You want to go up to the room and tell Natalie we’re ready. It’s Room 34. It’s on the second floor up there,” he said pointing.
She nodded. He knew she liked doing that sort of thing because it made her feel capable and grown up. The teacher at her school had told him that was important for a special needs child. He smiled as she rushed out of the truck and headed up the stairs.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he listened to the radio but then he cringed when he heard Emily banging on the door so hard he heard it above the music. He’d told her lots of times about doing that, but she didn’t seem to listen. He hoped Natalie didn’t think someone was about to kick the door down and call the police.
He glanced up, just to check everything was okay, and saw Natalie now standing at the door. She waved to him. He blushed again, remembering their kiss by the sink and the way his body had quickly reacted.
A few minutes later Emily and Natalie were heading toward to the truck. Natalie with her arm through Emily’s and the two were chatting nonstop by the look of things. How perfect was this. A woman he liked and who actually enjoyed being with Emily.
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