Chapter Twenty-one

Nate woke up the way he'd fallen asleep—holding Hanna like he never wanted to let her go.

He'd drifted off after two more rounds of sex. One hard and fast with him calling the shots, forcing her body to follow along so he could hear that sweet, high scream of her orgasm again. The last time had been slow and languid, partly because he wanted to take his time and discover every intriguing detail of her body, and partly because they were both exhausted from the frenetic action earlier.

He couldn't regret what they'd done last night—nothing that good could ever be regrettable—but he knew better than to think there would be no consequences.

Nothing that good came without consequences.

She'd been clear from the beginning that she wanted nothing from him but a temporary job. Sure, it had been her idea to fuck him last night, but that didn't mean she wouldn't hold her decision against him. He'd known plenty of women who would.

He left her deeply asleep and went in search of coffee. The sun was just painting a blush across the eastern sky when he realized that her cupboards were empty. No coffee, no cream, no breakfast.

A man couldn't fuck like that and skip breakfast. He'd die of starvation.

He scribbled a short note for Hanna so she'd know he hadn't snuck off, and then headed for town.

Hanna had enjoyed the muffins from the Rise and Shine Bakery so much, he decided to get them again. The bakery opened early, and the OPEN sign was already glowing when he parked and went inside.

The cheerful tinkle of the brass bell announced his presence, and as soon as he passed through the door, the scent of yeasty fresh bread and sweet concoctions greeted him. He was in the middle of a deep inhalation when he spied his parents sitting at their usual spot under the windows in the corner.

He knew they liked to come here before church, but hadn't expected to see them this early.

Dad smiled and nodded. Mom's greeting was cooler, but he had no idea why.

Aunt Beth appeared behind the counter, her white apron pristine and perfect. She was in her seventies, with a frail build and silvery white hair constantly worn in a twisted knot. He'd known her since he was born, and she'd baked every one of his birthday cakes as a child. With a smile always on her face, and an offered treat always in her hand, she was one of the most beloved townspeople in Whisper Lake.

"Good morning, Nate," she greeted.

"Morning, Aunt Beth. You're getting around a lot better these days, huh?"

She'd fallen and broken a hip a few months ago, and had only recently been able to abandon her walker for a cane.

She beamed at him. "I've got to be in shape to dance at the wedding. Been working hard to get there."

"Which wedding?" he asked, knowing full well the gossip around town was that she and Cotton Cyrus were all hot and heavy with each other. "Gemma's or yours?"

Aunt Beth blushed and waved a hand at him. "Stop it. You know I'm talking about that brother of yours. He'd better hurry up and propose to my Gemma before someone else swipes her away."

"I'm working on it," Mom said from her spot a few feet away.

Nate leaned over the display filled with pastries. He lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "The proposal would come a lot faster if Mom would leave the two of them alone."

"I heard that," Mom said.

"I know," Nate replied.

Aunt Beth laughed. "It's a mother's prerogative to meddle. It's how she shows she loves you. Now, what can I get you?"

"Two large coffees, and a half a dozen assorted muffins." He probably shouldn't have ordered so many, but in the back of his mind, he was already wondering if Hanna would want him to spend tonight as well.

"Gemma made some blueberry scones that are out of this world. Want one of them, too?"

"Better make it two."

Aunt Beth bobbed her eyebrows. "Taking breakfast to that new girl again?"

Did everyone in town know everything about what he did with Hanna?

"If I say yes, my mother will start hounding me to propose, too. I can't take the pressure."

Aunt Beth laughed and bustled around, preparing Nate's food.

He left her and went to greet his parents. Mom was still wearing a sour expression, but he knew making her the butt of his jokes would do that.

"I'm not meddling," she said as soon as he was within arm's range. "I'm caring. There's a difference."

"You know I'm just teasing you. We all want Saxon to propose to Gemma."

"When the time is right," Dad added. "No sooner. There's no rushing these things."

Mom's lips tightened and the look she gave Nate was nearly a glare.

"What?" he demanded. "What did I do now?"

"You didn't come home last night. I went by your house and your truck wasn't there. You're wearing the same clothes you were yesterday."

That was so like Mom to go checking on all her little chicks. If he didn't love her so much, he'd strangle her. "So?"

"You were with her, weren't you?" Mom asked.

"Bonnie," Dad said, his tone soothing. "He's a grown man. It's none of our business where he spent the night."

Mom turned her glare on Dad. "You're as worried about him as I am. Don't pretend like you weren't saying so only three minutes ago."

Dad put up his hands. "I'm more worried about his business than his love life. You told me to let it go. I'm telling you the same thing."

"I won't," Mom bit out. "He said he was just helping her, that he wasn't getting emotionally involved. How is that true if he is spending the night with her?"

"I hate to tell you this, Bonnie, but a man can spend the night with a woman and still not develop feelings for her—at least not ones that go anywhere north of his belt buckle."

"Okay," said Nate, his tone firm. "This conversation is over. I haven't lived under your roof for a decade. You don't get to dictate my actions. I hate that you worry, but it's really just a waste of time and energy." He bent down and kissed his mom's cheek. "Love you both. Now butt the hell out."

He turned and paid for his food. Before he could make it safely out of the bakery without further intrusion, Mom called, "We'll see you at Grandad's party, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he said, and right before the door closed behind him, he added, "I'm bringing Hanna."

***

Doug tried to hide his grin and failed.

"Don't you dare take his side, Douglas Grace," Bonnie snapped.

"I was just remembering a conversation very much like this one I had over thirty years ago with my folks." He took his wife's hand in his. "See how that turned out?"

"I was not some homeless, jobless gypsy roaming around the country, tempting men into bad decisions when we met."

"No, but you weren't local. My parents were sure you were going to drag me away from them forever. You hadn't started med school yet—hadn't even decided you were going to go. You were just another teenage girl on summer vacation, wearing a bikini to seduce me off the straight and narrow path. They didn't see in you what I did. Maybe that's the way it is with this Hanna girl."

Bonnie narrowed her pretty blue eyes. "You're telling me to butt the hell out too, aren't you?"

"I'm telling you that you should be nice. She may be the mother of your future grandbabies. Open your heart and give the girl a chance."

Bonnie sat quietly for a moment, sipping her coffee. Grudgingly, she said, "She does have a high pain tolerance. Not a whiner, that one."

"That's good. I'm sure if you try, you can find more good things to add to the list."

She sighed and shook her head. "I swear that everything would be simpler if my children would just let me choose their spouses for them."

Doug patted her hand, but could no longer hide his grin. "I'm sure you think so, honey."