Fiona scowled. “You’re the best kind of mother, that’s the kind you are! You always put that little boy first and, sure, he’s going through a little stress right now but you’re doing the best you can. Where does it say you can’t have a little something for yourself too? If Nate’s leaving, what’s wrong with a fling? And, anyway, you don’t know he’s leaving—you’re making assumptions without all the information. You could just woman up and ask him outright, you know.”
At the look on my face, she read that I was clearly not ready to “woman up.”
“Just stop stressing. Hell, you could even find out tonight that you two don’t really like each other as much as you thought. Then you’re just out one treehouse, and you can get Gavin to learn how to form a right angle and put it together. The point is, just have fun tonight and worry about the rest later.”
I considered her in the mirror. “Thanks, Fee. You’re right. You have any wine?”
She looked offended. “Do I have any wine? Where do you think you are?”
I laughed at her and dropped my hands back to my lap. “All right, pour some wine, pretty me up, and let’s Scarlett O’Hara the shit out of this thing!”
I had a glass of wine while Fiona did her thing, and by the time the glass was empty my hair looked sleek and sexy and my makeup was a step up from what I’d normally wear but it looked awesome. I headed home to get dressed. Fiona did end up talking me into wearing a flirty skirt and some platform sandals from my own closet, and she made me text her a picture of my final outfit to keep me from cheating. Gavin and Brett were in the backyard tossing a baseball around with Rocco when the doorbell rang. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with that awkwardness. I grabbed my purse, took a deep breath, and answered the door.
Nate was wearing a blue button-down shirt that drew attention to his eyes. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal his corded forearms and the first two buttons at his neck were left undone, affording me a glimpse of chest hair. His dark-wash jeans were a perfect fit, and gray Converse completed the picture. Comfortable, casual, and hot as hell. My lower belly warmed and the butterflies took flight. His jaw was freshly shaven for the first time and I wasn’t sure which way I preferred it. His eyes were hot and they were focused directly on me.
“You look gorgeous,” he said as his eyes roamed my figure.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Was that my voice? It was so breathy.
“Are you ready to go?” He crooked his arm out for me to take.
I wordlessly entwined my arm with his and we walked to his truck where he opened my door and helped me in. Did he cop a bit of a feel in the process? Maybe, but I didn’t mind one bit.
“So, what are the boys up to tonight?” Nate asked once he’d seated himself and pulled out onto the street.
“Lord knows. They were playing ball when I left so hopefully they’ll stay out of trouble. Although Gavin’s best friend is over so it’s unlikely.”
“You don’t like him?”
“Oh, Brett’s fine. It’s just that when the two of them get together the chances for downright stupid behavior rise exponentially. I’m probably prejudiced, though, because Brett was there when Gavin got in a really bad accident one time and it ended up ruining his baseball career.”
“I was wondering about that but I worried it was a sore spot so I didn’t want to ask Gavin about it.” Nate glanced at me. “After he met Gavin the other night, my dad mentioned that he used to watch him play when Gavin was in high school. He said everyone thought your brother would go pro one day but then never heard another thing after he went off to college.”
“You were probably smart not to mention it—it’s most definitely still a sore subject.” I sighed.
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“No, it’s fine.” I smoothed my skirt and tried not to let the memories affect me. “He was playing on a full scholarship and was right on track to make it big. On his twentieth birthday he and Brett and some of their other friends had the bright idea to try out a teammate’s motorcycle—having never ridden a motorcycle in his life, mind you.” I shook my head at the thought. “Long story short, he broke his pitching arm in three places. Goodbye baseball scholarship. Goodbye big-league dreams. At least he’d had the good sense to wear a helmet. But, then, instead of recovering from the surgeries and finishing his degree, he chose to drink and become a bum. And I haven’t quite been able to forgive him for it.” I gazed out the window and Nate was silent. “Wow, that was probably more than you wanted to know.” I forced a smile and looked back at him.
He glanced at me and then his eyes returned to the road. “Sounds very … complicated.” That was a safe way of putting it.
I quickly moved us on to lighter subjects and we arrived at his apartment building minutes later. It was pretty dingy as a whole, with cracked sidewalks and weed-infested lawn spaces.
“I know,” Nate said as he took my hand and walked me up the stairs to his second-floor apartment. “It’s nothing to look at but it’s cheap and it’s only temporary. It was the only place I could find that would offer a month-to-month lease.”
My stomach dropped. His comment removed any doubt I had about his plans. I had the sudden urge to turn around and run home, but the feel of his warm hand in mine somehow kept me anchored there.
He unlocked the door and it opened to reveal a small kitchen, an old sixties style table, and the ugliest couch I’d ever seen.
“Nate?”
“What?”
“Roseanne called. She wants her couch back.”
“Who’s the smartass now?” He elbowed me. “I borrowed it from my parents’ basement. My real furniture is in Austin.”
“I’m relieved I won’t have to pretend to like your phenomenally bad taste.” I smiled up at him.
He held a few strands of my hair and ran his fingers down until they caressed my collarbone. A shiver ran straight through me. “Let’s reserve that thought until you taste my cooking. I hope you like spaghetti.”
At that moment I thought I’d like anything he wanted to dish up.
Chapter Fifteen
Big Head vs. Little Head
NATE
“Well, that wasn’t half bad if I do say so myself.” I leaned back in my chair and took a swig of my beer.
“I didn’t realize there was any possible doubt. And it was good.” Laney propped her elbow on the table and sipped from her wine glass.
Conversation over dinner had flowed easily. We talked about our experiences growing up in the same town and realized that we’d probably nearly met each other dozens of times throughout our youth. But with our age difference it wasn’t so surprising that we hadn’t. Then we moved on to her history with Rocco and his dad, a guy named Dominic who lived in California. The guy sounded like an assclown to me, but Laney was pretty laid back about it, so I obviously didn’t have the whole story. It did explain, however, how she was able to afford a mortgage in a decent neighborhood while sending her kid to that stuffy daycare. I was guessing her job didn’t pay enough to afford it all on her own. And I knew Gavin had only recently begun contributing.
Her relationship with her brother seemed especially complicated, as I’d noted earlier. There was obviously some tension there, but I liked the guy and by all accounts he was working his ass off and catching on really quickly at work. Regardless, the love between brother and sister was clear, and he was great with Rocco. Thinking of my relationship with Bailey and knowing the intricacies that exist between family members, though, I wasn’t going to pry into that one. If Laney wanted to share, I’d let her do it in her own time.
She sat across from me, her hair all glossy and her eyes looking smoky and sexy as hell as her finger ran absentmindedly over the rim of her wine glass. My dick stood at attention—I’d been fighting a hard-on since the moment she answered her door in a short little skirt and sleeveless V-neck blouse that pointed the way to my biggest temptation. Damn, she was the definition of a bombshell and I couldn’t wait to get her in my bed and under me.
“So, I’m guessing the home repairs are on hold in favor of treehouse construction?” she asked, taking another sip of her wine. I nodded and stood with my beer, motioning her to follow me to the hideous, but surprisingly comfortable, couch.
“Maybe so. The project has inspired me.” I set my beer on the scratched-up coffee table.
That got a grin as she sat down next to me and I put an arm across the back of the couch behind her neck.
“I may have spoken too soon about the couch,” she said. “This is actually more comfortable than mine.”
“See, I do have good taste after all.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in closer. “About the treehouse, I’ve already drawn up some potential plans, but I won’t know specifics until I take some measurements of the tree. It’s going to be pretty amazing, though. Not to brag or anything.” I grinned.
She beamed at me, then set her glass next to my beer and snuggled right into my side. If that’s all it took to make her happy I’d build a hundred treehouses. I could see right down the front of her shirt and I didn’t even pretend not to stare.
“I can tell you Rocco is beyond excited so that is music to my ears. It’s really sweet of you to do this for him. It’s sweet of you to do all the things you’re doing for us. I feel like I don’t deserve it.” She put her hand on my thigh.
“Why would you say that? You deserve all sorts of good things.” I turned her in my arms and leaned my head down to kiss her. She tasted of wine and her own unique flavor, which was quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The intensity of our clinch ratcheted up immediately as my tongue explored her mouth wildly, like I’d never get another chance. She moaned and arched her back, and we were soon leaning down into the couch, one of her hands fisting in my hair and the other squeezing my ass. I moved on top of her and ground my erection into the heated apex of her thighs which were still covered by her damn skirt. We were moving at lightning speed and it was hot as fuck.