Chapter 3

 

Tony followed the smell of cooking meat around to the back of Sean’s place Friday night.

“I thought you decided not to come by,” Sean said from his seat on the deck. A deck Tony had helped him repair the previous month.

“Got stuck in traffic.” Tony pointed toward the beer in Sean’s hand. “Any more of those?”

“Help yourself.”

He didn’t need to hear that more than once. A cold beer and a burger were just the things he needed tonight. “Need anything inside?”

“Grab a few more burgers for the grill.”

Tony disappeared into the house. Sean had purchased the old Queen Anne several months earlier, and he’d been working on the beast ever since. Often, Tony helped him, but the last few times Sean asked for help, he’d had plans with Cat. It looked like Sean had made progress on his own since his last visit.

He grabbed the last Fall Harvest Fest beer in the refrigerator and three more burger patties before heading back outside.

“Taylor not coming this weekend?” Tony asked as he put the extra meat on the grill. It seemed like Sean’s much younger half-sister spent every weekend with him these days.

“School dance. My father is dropping her off in the morning. We’re heading to Mount Greylock to go hiking.”

As teens, he and Sean had gone hiking there more times than he could count. “Haven’t been up there in a long time. Have fun.”

“Where are you hiding out this weekend?”

He and Cat planned to attend the medieval fair down in Westport that weekend. Almost two hours from North Salem, the chance of running into anyone they knew was slim, so he figured it was a safe outing.

“Same place you disappeared to last weekend? Mia was mad you didn’t say goodbye before you left the wedding.”

“I’m sure she was heartbroken.”

After they left the wedding, he and Cat had spent the rest of the weekend at her apartment.

Sean headed for the grill. “I’m not joking. She was disappointed.”

“Tell her I’m sorry when you talk to her. I wasn’t feeling well that night.” Before Sean asked him any other questions, which would require a lie, he said, “When is she coming back?”

“Thanksgiving, so I need to get that master suite done.”

Weeks earlier, he and Mack helped Sean tear down a wall separating two smaller bedrooms to create one big master suite. He hadn’t seen the space since then, so he had no idea how far along the project was.

“Do you have much work left in there?”

“Striker and Mack helped me finish putting up the drywall and start the plastering. Once I finish up with that, I can paint and do the floors.”

At the mention of Cat’s brother, Tony shifted in his seat. “If you need help next weekend, let me know.”

“Appreciate the offer. I want this place a little more inhabitable before I propose.”

Tony choked on the beer he swallowed.

“You’re going to ask Mia to marry you?”

Sean put a platter of burgers down on the table. “That’s what propose means, Bates.”

He’d assumed Sean would pop the question ever since Mia returned to North Salem following her car accident, but he just hadn’t expected it so soon. They’d only been a couple since the summer.

“Congrats. I’m happy for you.” He’d seen how much happier Sean was since Mia entered his life and hoped nothing happened to ruin that. Unfortunately, he knew just how quickly things could change.

“Coach Striker called me today.” Sean piled pickles and lettuce onto his cheeseburger. “He wanted to know if I’d be interested in coaching next fall.”

With everything else, he’d forgotten he’d suggested Sean as his replacement.

“He said you might not be coming back.”

“I haven’t decided yet. Richard and I are thinking about expanding and opening another gym in Providence or maybe Hartford. If we do, I won’t have time for coaching.” Tony got his own burger ready. “What did you tell him?” Tony couldn’t think of a better choice than Sean.

“Said I’d think about it.”

Tony didn’t blame Sean for not making an immediate decision. Coaching was a big time commitment.

Sean took a bite of his burger and swallowed before he spoke again. “Did Charlie tell you she’s pregnant?”

For the second time that night, Tony choked on his beer. “Christ, warn me before you drop news on me, will you, O’Brien.” He couldn’t picture Sean’s sister a mother. Of course, a few years ago, he wouldn’t have pictured her married either.

Sean smirked at him. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Tony didn’t know how it had happened, but the world he’d lived in for so long was rapidly changing. Sean was about to propose to a movie star. Mrs. O’Brien was now married to her high school sweetheart, and Jessie Quinn, the town’s girl next door, was all but living with Mack Ellsbury. He refused to think about the other major change right now. The one named Catrina Striker.

Sean’s chair scrapped against the wood as he pushed it back. “I’m gonna get another beer. Want one?”

Tony nodded and took another bite of his burger.

The screen door into the house slammed shut as Tony’s phone rang. He checked the caller ID before he answered, and when he saw it was Cat’s number, he glanced toward the door. He didn’t think he’d hear from her tonight. She’d spent much of the week in New Jersey at some kind of computer conference and didn’t expect to get home until later that night.

“Hi, beautiful. Are you already home?” Tony listened for the door opening again.

“Not yet. We just crossed into Massachusetts. We’re going to stop and eat. I wanted to call and say hi. What are you up to?”

The door hinges squeaked behind him. “I stopped by to see a friend. His girlfriend is out of town and he needed a babysitter to hold his hand.”

Sean sat down at the table and gave him an evil stare before he went back to eating.

Cat laughed, the sound making him smile.

“Visiting with Sean. What a good friend you are.”

“You know me.”

“Are we all set for tomorrow?”

“I bought tickets online today.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait.”

He wasn’t looking forward to the fair as much as he was the food there. The last time he’d gone to the yearly medieval fair, he’d had some of the best wood-roasted turkey.

“I wish I had the time to see you today. I miss you.”

“I’ve missed you too, but we’ve got all weekend.” He hadn’t seen her since Tuesday night when they’d met for dinner in Boston, and he’d looked forward to seeing her again ever since. In past relationships, he could go days and days without seeing or talking to whatever woman he currently dated. With Cat, that wasn’t the case, and he refused to think too much about why.

“We’re about to be seated. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Call me or send me a message so I know you got home tonight, okay?”

“It’ll be late, Tony.”

“Doesn’t matter.” And it didn’t. Call him old-fashioned, but he’d feel better knowing she made it home.

Tony ended his call, intent on finishing his burger and not talking. Sean didn’t give him a chance to do either.

“You’ve been MIA so much, I figured you had a new girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s a huge shock to you.” Tony forced sarcasm into his voice. He knew damn well why his friend looked surprised.

“One of your wealthy clients?”

He made it a point to not date any of the women who trained in the gym he and his buddy Richard owned, no matter how rich or attractive they were.

“No, we met at a bar.” Okay, he stretched the truth a little.

Tony could see the wheels turning in Sean’s head.

“Have you been together long?”

“Couple months.” He couldn’t say they’d just met, Sean had heard too much of the conversation.

“You should’ve taken her to the wedding. Ma wouldn’t have minded.”

If Sean only knew what he and the woman in question had almost done at the wedding, he’d be attempting to knock some sense into him. He suspected he might need that to happen at some point, but not tonight.

“She had other plans that night.”

“Two months. That’s a record for you, isn’t it? What makes this one special?”

Two months and a couple weeks was his average since Isabella. He doubted anyone remembered that.

“The sex,” Tony answered. He couldn’t explain to himself what drew him to Cat; how the hell could he explain it to anyone else?

“Does this mystery woman have a name?”

No getting out of this one. “Catrina, she works in Boston. We met one night after work.”

Sean nodded. “If she’s still around when Mia gets home, we should get together.”

It’d be another month before Mia got back, which would put his and Cat’s relationship way past his normal expiration date. Yet, he expected her to still be in his life then.

“Where are you two off to this weekend?” Sean started to put together a second cheeseburger. “You said you bought tickets.”

“The medieval fair down in Westport.”

“Damn, Tony, you’ll do anything for sex, won’t you?” Sean shook his head. “Are you going to wear tights?”

“Shut up, O’Brien. You’ve never been.”

“Not true. I took Charlie and Jessie when they were in high school. Jessie managed to talk Charlie into wearing one of those medieval gowns.”

Now that must have taken some considerable bribing or blackmail on Jessie’s part.

“I hope the sex is worth it,” Sean said.

Tony grabbed his beer and took a swig. His friends had been giving him a hard time since forever and it never bothered him, probably because they were often right. Tonight, the way Sean kept lumping his and Cat's relationship in with his past ones just rubbed him the wrong way.

That worried him.

***

 

“Are you and Zack back together?” Lorianne, her friend and the co-worker she’d driven down to New Jersey with, asked when the hostess walked away.

Cat looked away from the email she was reading and at Lorianne. “No. Why would you think that?”

“I saw you talking to him yesterday after one of the workshops and you told whoever you were on the phone with that you missed them. I thought maybe it was Zack.”

At one time, the fact that she and Zack worked for the same company doing similar jobs had been a bonus.

“Zack and I are still friends, but that’s it.” Even though they’d gone their separate ways, she still considered him a friend. “I’ve been seeing someone else for the past couple months.”

“What’s he like? Does he work with us?”

Cat doubted Lorianne even knew North Salem existed. She’d grown up in New York before moving to Massachusetts after college. The chances of her knowing anyone in town was practically nonexistent, so she didn’t have to worry about what she told Lorianne.

“No, Tony and his friend own Olympia Fitness.”

“That’s the la-de-da gym that caters to the rich only, right?”

Tony would love to hear his business referred to that way.

“Anyone can train there.”

Lorianne rolled her eyes. “If you can afford it.”

Cat didn’t know how much it cost to train at Tony’s fitness center, but she did know much of its clientele consisted of CEOs and other business people who worked in the city.

“I heard one of the owners is a competitive body builder. Is that the one you’re seeing?”

“That’s Richard, but I think he’s taking a break from competitions.”

Tony didn’t discuss work much, but he had mentioned that his friend hadn’t competed in almost eight months.

Lorianne picked up her menu and glanced over it. “Does your family like him? I know they were bummed when you and Zack broke up.”

Now that question didn’t have a simple answer. Pop and Tony had a good working relationship, so she knew he liked Tony in that sense. That didn’t mean he’d want them dating. She suspected her father knew all about Tony’s reputation.

Mom was another story. She loved everyone. If she brought Tony to a family gathering, Mom wouldn’t blink an eye.

That left Striker. He’d kill Tony if he ever found out about them.

Unless she wanted to give Lorianne all the details, it was just easier to simplify her answer. “Yes, my family likes him.”

Lorianne patted her arm. “Good, I’m glad you’re with someone nice and not back with Zack.”

All her friends had been angry when Zack left her. She had been for a long time too, and for several months, she’d mopped around feeling sorry for herself. Neither emotion had plagued her in a long time.

“Are you bringing him to the holiday party next month?”

The company’s holiday party hadn’t crossed her mind. Since starting there, she’d never missed it. Just about everyone attended, including her ex, Zack.

The party was more than a month away. Would she and Tony even be together then? She suspected their relationship might be on borrowed time all ready.

“Maybe.” She’d promised herself she wasn’t going to worry about how long Tony stuck around. Too bad every time they saw each other, doing that became harder and harder to do.

 

I’m home. Cat sent the text message after she walked into her apartment.

Good. Want some company?

She held the phone and considered her answer. It’d been a rather long drive home thanks to an overturned tractor-trailer on the highway. For about the last thirty minutes, all she’d thought about was her comfy fleece pajamas and some hot tea.

Some hot tea and Tony sounded even better though.

Sure.

Be right over. Need anything?

She typed the word you, but then deleted it. Knowing Tony, he’d interpret that to mean she wanted sex. Tonight, that wasn’t the first thing on her mind. Instead, she simply wanted him over because she enjoyed spending time with him regardless of what other activities they were doing.

I’m good. Cat sent the message and went to change into her favorite pajama bottoms.

Fifteen minutes later, she opened the door and stifled a yawn.

“Hi, beautiful,” Tony said before giving her a kiss guaranteed to wake up any woman. “Mmm, you taste like licorice.” He closed the door behind him.

“I’m having some licorice tea. Do you want some?”

“Not much of a tea drinker.”

She should’ve known that. When she’d been with Zack, she’d known all his likes and dislikes. However, there were so many things she didn’t know about Tony, even though she’d known him forever.

“Can I get you something else?” She watched him hang his jacket on the back of a chair.

Pulling her into his arms, he smiled. “Just you, beautiful. I’ve missed you.”

She started to smile, but at the last second, she yawned again. “Sorry, it was a long day.”

“No worries. I won’t be offended if you fall asleep.”

She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile, but it escaped anyway. “What would your friends think if they found out women were falling asleep around you? Your reputation would be ruined.”

“You’re hilarious.” Tony followed her into the living room where she’d left her tea.

“I know, and that’s why you spend time with me.” She kissed his cheek. The stubble that had grown in since that morning was rough against her lips.

He leaned closer. “That’s not the only reason. I also love the way you look in kitty cat fleece PJs.”

“Good, because I have two other pairs just like these.”

“Can’t wait to see you in them.” He put his arm across her shoulders.

Cat settled her head on his shoulder, once again overcome with emotion. The same thing happened the previous Sunday when they’d sat much like they were now and talked as if their relationship had a potential future. For that entire afternoon, she’d forgotten about his reputation and the fact that she only wanted a short, fun fling with North Salem’s resident playboy.

Now, much like then, she suspected her view of this thing with him was rapidly changing, which was dangerous. Tonight, she refused to think too much about that. She could do all the dwelling and serious thinking she wanted when he left.

“How’s your BFF?”

“Next time I want a good laugh, I’ll tell Sean you called him that.”

“What? He is your best friend.”

“Guys don’t refer to each other like that. Can you really picture your brother saying that to Mack?”

“Maybe guys should. You could exchange those best friend necklaces that they sell. Kelsey and I had them.” She laughed at the mental image of Tony and Sean doing that.

“He’s fine. I told him I’d help him on the house next weekend. He wants the master suite done before he proposes to Mia.”

“My brother is moving in next Sunday anyway.” With Striker living there, she didn’t expect to spend much time with Tony.

“Next weekend? I thought he wasn’t moving in until November?”

“That was the plan, but Mack can only help him move his stuff into the storage container he rented next Sunday, so when they’re done, he’s coming here.”

Tony let out a deep breath. “I’ll ask Sean if we can work on Sunday instead of Saturday. Then we’ll figure something out until Striker moves into his new place.”