Grant stepped forward, leaned in, and placed his hand on her face. His lips swept over her warm, sweet lips. She didn’t pull away but parted her lips, inviting his tongue inside. He reached around her waist and pulled her close to his body. Her fingers found their way around his neck, grabbing hold and keeping him there.
“Ooooooooooh!” neighbor kids shouted and giggled as they walked by on the sidewalk.
Lottie’s face flushed as they laughed at the kids pointing and covering their still-giggling faces. “Fuck kids,” Lottie whispered.
Grant laughed and shook his head in agreement. “Maybe that old man wasn’t so crazy after all.”
Lottie nodded and giggled.
“Can I take you out to dinner on Friday?” he asked.
“I’d like that.” Lottie tucked her hair behind her ear.
Grant leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you Monday.”
“See ya.”
Grant climbed into his truck and drove off toward home, dreading the look of disappointment he was sure to get from Nana and Tiffany, if she was still there.
Please let her not be there.
Pulling into the driveway, he noticed Tiffany’s Vespa parked by the side of the road. He sighed and pulled the six pack from the small space behind the seats. He slowly twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, hoping to get a hint of the mood inside before entering. Kicking off his shoes, he peeked into the kitchen. No one in there. He pulled one beer from the pack, cracked it open, and guzzled some down, although it was warm. Placing the rest in the fridge, he walked around in through the dining room and noticed Nana and Tiffany out on the patio, chatting.
Fuck.
Grant sucked in a deep breath and slid the patio door open.
“Grant! We were starting to get worried about you. Where have you been?”
“I was craving a particular IPA from Planted Flag, but they didn’t have it in town, so I had to drive to Lawton to find it.” Grant scratched the back of his neck.
“Planted Flag? I’ve never heard of that.” Tiffany snatched the bottle from his hand.
“They’re in Ohio. Best beer I’ve ever had.”
“We have all the best beers at Meers, so I doubt it’s better than anything we have there.” Tiffany sniffed the beer inside.
Grant crinkled his nose. What did she know about beer? She didn’t even look old enough to drink. She should know it’s rude to practically shove someone else’s bottle of beer up your nose. He’d need more to put up with her the rest of the evening.
“Can you help me get some snacks from inside, Grant?” Nana stretched out her arm to him for help up.
He knew that was code for “I’m going to give you a talking to.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He took her arm and helped her up, opening the door for her and following her into the kitchen.
Nana pulled open the refrigerator and began arranging some crudités on a plate, encircling a bowl of her homemade ranch dressing. He knew the longer she worked without saying anything directly corresponded to her level of anger at him. She was nearly finished with the snacks and glasses of pink lemonade she poured and placed on a tray before she turned to him, shaking her head.
“Now, Grant. This is the second time you’ve deserted our guest. It’s rude behavior, and I didn’t raise you to behave this way. Tiffany is my very dear friend, and I’m going to ask you to stop being so rude to her.”
Grant sucked in a deep breath and fought the urge to roll his eyes, wishing he could tell his nana that she needed to stop trying to set him up with the girl. But knowing how fragile she still was after Papa Joe’s death, he didn’t have the heart to say anything other than “yes, ma’am” and promise himself he’d do his best to behave the rest of the evening. Worse case, he’d just have to be straight with Tiffany and tell her that he wasn’t interested in her.
Chapter Fifteen
Lottie
Lottie watched Grant’s truck drive off. She closed the door and leaned against it. Resting her fingers on her just-kissed, plump lips, she wished she could taste him again. Now she was sure he liked her. It was a little unimaginable to her that he could possibly want to spend time with—and kiss—her, when he had a twenty-something, redheaded beauty wanting his attention.
A scratching on the patio door glass broke through her daydream. Pickles wanted inside. She sprinted down the hall and opened the door. He ran inside, jumped on the couch, and curled up.
“Hey, that’s my spot.” Lottie nudged him over and sat next to him. He placed his head on her lap and closed his eyes. “It’s been a big day, huh, boy?” Lottie grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV, searching for something to watch. She was excited to take Pickles for a walk and tell Beth all about the kiss and how Grant asked her on a date, but it looked like Pickles wasn’t ready to go anywhere any time soon.
She scratched his ears and watched old episodes of Three’s Company until she woke up with drool dripping down her chin. Pickles was nowhere to be seen. Lottie couldn’t see him, but she could hear that he was up to no good. She followed the noise to the kitchen, where, as she suspected, Pickles had knocked over and was nosing through the trash.
She clapped her hands. “Pickles, no! Bad boy.” She shooed him out of the kitchen and began picking up the scattered trash when he trotted over to the doorway and pissed on the wall. “Pickles! No! Outside!”
Lottie chased him to the back door and let him out.
Fuck.
Regret had set in. She didn’t know how to train a dog. She certainly didn’t want to text Grant already and let him know what a difficult time she was having. Taking a few deep breaths, she returned to the kitchen, finished cleaning up the trash, and cleaned the pee from the wall.
Pickles’s leash was hanging on the coat hook in the hallway. She grabbed it and got Pickles from outside. “You and I are going to be hooked together all day from now on, buddy. What do you say we go for walk? We’ll figure this out.”
Keep a positive mental attitude. It’s only going to be rough in the beginning.
She bent down and scratched Pickles behind the ears before stepping outside and locking the door. They headed through the neighborhood, cut through the park, and walked between a few houses to make their way into Beth’s development—the one she used to live in. It’s where most of the officers who didn’t reside on base lived. All the houses were new, brick, and way overpriced for such a small Oklahoma town.
Her old house was two doors down from Beth’s, and it always felt so odd to walk by it now. It was almost as if she never lived there. It was like being married to David was only a dream that swiftly turned into a nightmare. Lottie felt a tug on the leash and turned to realize that Pickles was taking a shit. She was grateful that Grant had convinced her to buy the little bone-shaped container of poop bags to hook onto the leash. A man cutting his grass was giving her daggers, watching to make sure she cleaned up after her dog. She pulled out a bag and picked up the poop, trying to avoid eye contact with the man watching her. Even though she was doing the “right” thing, she was mortified over the action of doing it. She closed the bag and scuttled the rest of the way down the street and up Beth’s driveway.
She rang the doorbell, and the door opened. Lottie held out the poop bag. “Truffle delivery!”
She jumped when Michael replied, “Uh, no thanks.”
“Oh, sorry, Michael, I was expecting Beth to answer.”
“That’s okay.” Michael grinned shaking his head. “You two are weird. I’m used to it. Who’s this?” He bent over and scratched Pickles.
“This is Pickles. I just got him today.”
“Tibetan Terrier?”
“I think so.” Lottie smiled.
“Come on in. I’ll take your poop bag unless you really want to give it to Beth.”
Lottie handed it to him. “That’s okay. Thanks, Michael.”
“Sure thing.” Michael headed off through the house and out on the patio to throw the bag
in the trash.
Beth came out of the hallway from her bedroom. “Hey, Lottie. Hey, Pickles. So how was the trip to Lawton?”
“Can we go out on the patio? I’m worried Pickles will pee in your house.”
“Sure.”
Michael held the door open for them as they went outside.
“He kissed me!” Lottie could barely hold the words in. She covered her face but peeked at Beth through spread fingers.
Beth grinned and sang, “Finally!”
Lottie giggled and continued hiding her face a bit from Beth, who grabbed her wrist and pried her hands away.
“Look how hard you’re blushing. It must have been good! Details!”
Lottie flopped down in the patio chair and covered her face once more.
Beth sat down next to her. “She’s speechless. It was that good, huh?”
Lottie nodded, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she’d let out the squeal that had bubbled into her throat.
“I guess now you can stop doubting that he likes you. I told you. You need to listen to me more often.”
Lottie nodded in agreement. “He asked me on a date.”
“When?” Beth leaned forward, placing her hand on her chin.
“Friday. We’re going out for dinner.”
“Do you know where you’re going yet? The restaurant pickings are slim in Altus.”
“I don’t know yet. I’m sure we’ll decide this week.”
“You should invite him to your place for dinner and then have him for dessert.” Beth waggled her eyebrows.
“I’m not going to sleep with him on the first date. We just had our first kiss.” Lottie shook her head. “Besides, I’m technically still married.”
Beth’s lip curled. “Right, like David is busy being faithful to you. Fuck him, Lottie. No, fuck Grant; he’s hot. We’re too old to do that whole waiting game. We are women in our thirties. We have needs!”
“I don’t want him to think I’m easy or a whore or something.” Lottie tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Well, don’t make him wait too long when that Tiffany is wagging her pussy in his face.” Beth rolled her eyes.
“He’s not interested in her. He told me.”
“Honey, he might not be interested in dating her, but that doesn’t mean he won’t fuck her if he’s horny enough.”
Lottie frowned and stared at her shoes.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Grant isn’t David.”
“No, he’s not. And I don’t want to make the same mistakes with Grant that I did with David. Like sleeping with him too soon.” Lottie ran her fingers along the edge of the patio table, averting her eyes from Beth.
“Nothing you did in your relationship with David was wrong. All the wrongs are his. Completely.” Beth placed her hand on Lottie’s, squeezing it. “You know that, right?”
Lottie shrugged. Tears formed in her eyes. Was she ready for a relationship again? Suddenly, everything seemed a little more terrifying than it had before. Sure, now she knew he definitely liked her, but could she trust a man again?
“I think I’m going to get going.” Lottie untangled Pickles’s leash from the chair. “I need to feed Pickles, and I want to get David’s stuff ready to ship out tomorrow.”
“You’re finally going to send it?”
“Yeah. I think I was holding myself hostage by hanging onto it and the idea that he was going to want me back.”
Beth threw her arms around Lottie and squeezed her tight. “I’m proud of you, and I hope that you’re finally going to be able to think about yourself and be happy again.”
Lottie nodded. “Me too.” She pulled away from Beth’s embrace and wiped a tear that had rolled down her cheek. “C’mon, Pickles. Let’s go home.”
Beth slid open the patio door for Lottie and Pickles. “Let me just grab your key.” She raced into the kitchen and fished it off a hook on the wall, handing it to her. “Call me if you want help packing up the last of David’s things.”
“I will.” Lottie smiled and headed out to her car; Pickles jumped inside. She rolled down the windows so he could stick his head out and headed home.
***
Lottie’s stomach flipped as she pulled into the school parking lot on Monday morning and saw Grant leaning on his truck, waiting for her. She could feel the heat already filling her cheeks and her pelvis. She desperately wanted to feel his body pressed against hers again. The anticipation overwhelmed her.
After parking, he opened her car door and took her hand. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She smiled.
He took her bags and carried them inside for her. “So how did things go with Pickles?”
“Well, not long after you left, he got into the trash and peed on the wall.” Lottie shrugged.
Grant chuckled. “Sounds like it’ll be all downhill from here. He’s a smart dog. I bet he learns how to behave himself in no time.”
“I kept him on the leash all day yesterday, like you told me, and he only tried to pee in the house once before I stopped him. He put his leg down so fast! I almost felt bad and thought he was never going to pee again. But he did as soon as I took him outside to a tree, and then I praised him. I did feel bad putting him in the crate when I left, but he didn’t seem to mind.”
Grant handed her bags back to her at the classroom door. “See you at lunch?”
“Yeah. See ya.” Lottie smiled and watched him walk to his class, sneaking a quick peek at his butt, her cheeks flushing when the thought of seeing him naked passed through her mind. It had been a while since she had sex. And the last sexual encounters she had with David made her feel like dirt. She knew for at least the last six months of their marriage he was also having sex with Veronica. Deep down inside, she knew that he probably wasn’t thinking about her during those times and who knew how much beforehand.
Lottie shook those bad thoughts from her head, turned, and walked into the classroom. She stopped short when she noticed a bouquet of pink roses on her desk. She floated over to them, closed her eyes, and sniffed them. Warmth spread throughout her body as she opened her eyes. A card sat perched with her name scrawled across the front. She opened the envelope. “Looking forward to Friday. Grant.” Pulling a rose from the vase, she brushed the petals along her lips, unable to remember the last time someone had given her flowers or had looked forward to spending time with her.
The rest of the morning, the grin that had taken hold of her lips could not be erased, no matter what was happening in the classroom. Every time the kids were working silently at her desk, she’d pick up the rose and breathe the fragrance deep into her lungs. Even when one of the boys chewed up some gum and stuck it into a girl’s hair, the situation couldn’t erase the tingle that radiated up and down her spine.
The smile grew wider when Grant popped his head around the corner, carrying his lunch sack.
“Thank you for the flowers.” Although she’d always been embarrassed when given gifts or having someone spend money on her, she wasn’t shy accepting them and thanking Grant.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled. “I hope you like roses. The lady at the flower shop said most women do and that they’re non-toxic to dogs. So you don’t have to worry if Pickles gets into them.”
Tears filled Lottie’s eyes, and she felt breathless. Her hands flew to her face to hide the tears that were now threatening to escape.
“Hey, you all right?” Grant placed his hand on her back.
“I’m fine.” She waved and wiped away the tears. Grabbing a tissue from the desk, she quickly dabbed her eyes. “It’s just really thoughtful.”
“Well, it’s easy to think of you.” Grant kissed her cheek.
Lottie turned and grabbed his face, kissing him fully, tasting his honey-sweet tongue. She wished they weren’t at the school as she pulled away, looking around to make sure no one had seen such a passionate kiss taking place in an elementary school classroom.
She pulled open her drawer
and took out her lunch, breaking her cookie in two and giving him half.
“So where would you like to go for dinner on Friday night? Do you like Italian? We could go to Roma’s.” Grant took a bite of the cookie.
“No! I, uh, I don’t want to go there.” Although her voice was shrill, she was hoping she’d calmed it enough for him not to ask why she’d had such a strong reaction to the place. She just couldn’t have her first date with Grant be the place where David had broken her heart. “How about The Plaza?”
“Sounds good to me. What time should I pick you up? Seven?”
“Seven is good. That will give me time to feed Pickles and take him for a walk before we go out.”
“You’re stickin’ with Pickles, then?”
“Yeah. You know, he just seems like a Pickles. I can’t imagine changing it now. I guess if I were going to, I should have done it in my head before I spent so much time with him at the shelter.”
“True. Brutus showed up in my life with no name assigned.” Grant sighed. “I’m jealous of you a bit. I miss Brutus so much.”
“Well, you can wait until I’m done cleaning up pee and garbage all the time before you’re jealous of me.”
“True.” Grant chuckled. “I promise it won’t take long before he knows all the rules and all you two are doing is enjoying your time together. That’s a smart dog. You can tell. The way he worked us for those egg rolls, a dumb dog wouldn’t have known how to do that.”
Lottie laughed. “I guess you’re right. He knows how to look pathetic and like he’s never eaten in his whole life. He got half of my egg omelet this morning, and it’s not because I wasn’t hungry.”
Before they knew it, the bell rang. Grant scooped up his containers and shoved them back into his sack. “See you after school?”
“Yeah, see ya.” After he walked out, Lottie pulled the rose out the vase again and held it to her chest.
Chapter Sixteen
Lottie
Easy Love Page 12