Chapter 4

 

Metal clanging against metal echoed in the air along with the cheers from the crowd. All around her men, women, and children walked by wearing various costumes, some even carrying swords.

“I didn’t make it here last year. I forgot how magical the fair is.”

“Magical?” Tony asked.

“Yes. It’s almost like we’ve stepped back in time when knights still rode horses and people lived in castles.”

He appeared unconvinced, but he didn’t argue with her. “Maybe, but I bet the food is better here than it was back then.”

Cat laced their fingers together as they walked. “Perhaps, but don’t you think it’d be fun to travel back in time and live a few days in the Middle Ages? Or maybe ancient Rome. Or during the Renaissance.”

“And be dead at the age of thirty? No thanks.”

She elbowed him in the side. “People lived longer than that, Tony.” She stopped and looked at a jewelry display set up under a canvas tent. “You really wouldn’t want to travel back in time and live in a castle for a few days or maybe visit a Roman bath?”

“I like my indoor plumbing and big screen television too much.”

She put back the pendant she held. “I could do without television, but the indoor plumbing would be a tough one. I doubt those garderobes smelled good, especially in the summer.” She started walking again. “But I’d give up bathrooms for a few days. Castles and knights have always fascinated me.”

She stopped near a booth selling various expensive period costumes. “I think you’d make a great knight riding a big white horse wearing chain mail or a whole suit of armor.”

He nodded toward the chain mail on display. “Looks uncomfortable.”

“Probably. Then again, so is a bra. After a while, you get used to it.”

“Somehow, I think a bra is a lot more comfortable than chain mail, beautiful.”

“And how many bras have you worn?”

Tony put an arm across her shoulders and started walking again. “Well, there was this one time in college . . .”

“Knock it off.”

“I’m not joking. In college, I dressed up as a hula girl for a party. The coconut bra was hell, but I think the chain mail would be worse.”

“I’d love to see you wearing a bra. Don’t suppose you have any pictures?”

“What do you think?”

“Thought I’d ask anyway.”

He navigated them around a crowd gathered to watch a few jugulars. “Where do you want to go now?”

“The next joust starts in fifteen minutes. I’d like to see that while we’re here.” She never missed that event when she came to the fair.

“Lead the way.”

She’d gone horseback riding several times, and it had taken all her concentration to just stay on the horse and get it to move in the direction she wanted. It always amazed her how the re-enactors managed to do both while charging with lances pointed at each other. Occasionally, a man did find himself on the ground, but he never appeared fazed by it. If she took a fall from a horse like that, she’d probably need to be carried off the ground on a stretcher.

The last two men in the event positioned themselves as the crowd around them cheered. For a moment, it was like being at a real medieval tournament. Regardless of what Tony thought, this place was magical.

She leaned forward on the bench while the ground beneath her shook as the two huge horses thundered toward each other. The blue knight’s lance splinted when it hit the red knight’s shield, and for a second, she thought both men would stay in their saddles. Then, at the last moment, the red knight tilted in his saddle. When he hit the ground, a deafening cheer filled the air.

“I wonder how much training those guys do?”

With the jousting finished until later that afternoon, they fought their way through the crowd leaving the stands.

“Are you considering a new sport, Tony?”

“Just curious. I’ve never even ridden a horse.”

A shrill female voice assaulted Cat’s ears as she stepped around a couple having a heated argument. “Maybe you could start something new. Jousting on motorcycles.” They’d ridden Tony’s motorcycle down to Westport that afternoon. It’d been her first time on a bike. She had to admit she enjoyed it.

“I’ll suggest it to your brother and let him try it first. Where to now?”

The scent of cinnamon, chocolate, and roasting meat wafted around them and her stomach grumbled. “The sword fighting demos don’t start for almost an hour, so how about we eat?”

Tony kissed her hard on the cheek. “Thank you. The smell of those turkey legs is torturing me. I’m starving.”

She’d spotted several people with the golden brown turkey legs go by, and they did look amazing. “Go get one and I’ll find a seat over there.” She nodded toward the tables set up under a large tent.

“Do you want one?”

She’d spotted something different she wanted. “Nope. Get me a piece of pumpkin pie and a hot chocolate.” Neither item might be considered traditional medieval food, but she didn’t care.

“I’ll be back.”

Since he couldn’t tell, she watched him walk away. When she could no longer see him because of the large crowd, she scouted out a table for them. It was a beautiful fall day and the second-to-last weekend for the fair. The place was packed. Perhaps busier than any other time she’d come.

“If you need a table, we’re leaving,” a man dressed in a kilt said as Cat passed by his table.

“Thank you.”

Cat kept an eye out for Tony and considered even calling him to let him know where she’d found a seat. With the large crowd, it’d be difficult for him to find her.

The Star Wars theme song erupted from her phone before she could pull up her contact list. Zack? Looking away from the screen, she shoved the phone back into her bag. Zack hadn’t called her in months. They occasionally talked at work, but since he’d started dating someone new, he called her less and less. She couldn’t think of any reason he’d call today, and she didn’t really care to talk to him right now.

“Here you go, my lady. One slice of pie and a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream.” Tony set down a tray with pie, two drinks, and an enormous turkey leg.

“Are you going to get that?” he asked when her phone continued ringing inside her bag.

“Zack can leave a message. I’ll call him back later.”

“As in your ex?”

Except for the night they’d met at O’Leary’s Pub, they never talked about her ex-boyfriend or any of the women Tony had dated in the past.

She nodded. She wouldn’t want any of his ex-girlfriends calling him, so it didn’t surprise her that he sounded annoyed now.

“He hasn’t ––”

“Cat? Tony?”

Crap in a handbag as her grandmother would say. Hundreds of people crowded the fair today, yet Jessie stumbled upon them. Talk about rotten luck.

Cat looked around in search of Mack. If Jessie was there, it wouldn’t surprise her to find Mack there too. Jessie seeing her and Tony together was one thing. Her brother’s closest friend, Mack Ellsbury, was something else.

“Hi, Jessie. I . . . uh . . . didn’t know you enjoyed these fairs.”

Jessie shrugged, her eyes darting back and forth between Cat and Tony. “This is my first one. A friend at school told Grace about it, and she wanted to come.”

Yep, if both Grace and Jessie were there, Mack was around somewhere too.

“She spotted the pony rides. Mack’s over there with her, so I came over here to get some drinks and a snack,” Jessie said as if reading Cat’s mind.

A pony ride didn’t last long. Getting Jessie away from them before Mack came looking for her was imperative.

“I forgot to tell Tony I wanted a bottle of water. I’ll walk over and wait in line with you.” Cat stood before anyone protested. “Be right back, Tony.”

She glanced over her shoulder as she and Jessie walked away. She’d seen numerous expressions on Tony’s face during their time together, but she’d never seen the grim frown he wore now as he watched them.

“You and Tony are here together?” Jessie couldn’t have sounded any more shocked than if Cat told her Santa Claus existed and he lived in the North Pole with elves. “Stupid question. Of course you are. When did you start dating? You didn’t go to the wedding together.”

Cat’s face grew hot at the mention of the wedding. “We’re not exactly dating. We’ve been spending time together. Having fun, but you know Tony. He’s not the serious relationship type.”

Together, they joined a line for drinks and snacks, and Cat worked on how to ask Jessie to keep what she saw to herself.

“Then what’s he doing here with you today?”

“I told you, we have fun together. We’re both single. I’m not ready for another serious relationship, and Tony has a phobia against them. Our arrangement is perfect for both of us.”

Jessie looked away for a moment and then met her gaze. “If it’s perfect, why did you both look horrified when you spotted me?”

“No one knows, Jessie. That’s why we didn’t go to the wedding together.” Cat cleared her throat. She hated to ask Jessie not to say anything, but she didn’t need her brother finding out either.

“It’s better if no one else knows, especially my brother. Mom and Pop still hope I’ll get back with Zack. And Striker, well, I don’t think he’d approve.”

Jessie cracked a smile. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“In another month or two, this thing will be over. Please don’t tell anyone you saw us together today. Not even Mack.”

“Saw who?” Jessie’s smile vanished. “Maybe you shouldn’t assume Tony considers this like all his other relationships.”

She liked Jessie’s thoughts, but didn’t agree.

“Come on, Jessie. This is Tony Bates we’re talking about.”

“I know all about his reputation. I also know he’s a good guy who wouldn’t normally betray his friends. Sneaking around with a friend’s sister doesn’t seem like something he’d do unless she meant a lot to him.”

He liked her, but that didn’t translate into caring deeply about her.

“Besides, why would he risk a friendship when he could just as easily date someone he met at a bar or wherever else he normally meets women? That’s what he’s always done.”

Jessie made a good argument, but Cat wouldn’t bet the house on it.

“Anyway, I won’t tell anyone I saw you and Tony together.”

“Thanks.”

Jessie nodded and then turned her attention to the woman manning the register and placed her order.

When the next register over became available, Cat touched Jessie on the shoulder before she moved to place her order. “I’ll talk to you later, Jessie. Have fun today.”

As Cat fought her way back through the crowd, Jessie’s argument played over in her head. Jessie made a valid point, one she hadn’t entertained herself. Tony and Striker weren’t best buds, but Tony considered her brother a friend. He had his faults, but he was a good guy, at least he always appeared that way. Everyone in town liked him, including Pop.

Perhaps this thing between them meant more to him than she’d suspected. The idea warranted more consideration, but not now. Something like that required serious thought, and she couldn’t do it with Tony around.

When she returned to their table, the tray containing the oversized turkey leg and pie remained untouched, a good indication of his current mood.

“I got a bottle for you too.” She put both waters down on the table. “How’s the turkey?”

“Thanks.” He reached for his beer instead of the water and finished it. “I haven’t tried it yet. I was waiting for you to come back.”

She squeezed his hand as she sat down. “Jessie promised not to tell anyone she saw us together.”

Tony’s hand relaxed.

“After we finish our food, maybe we should leave just to be on the safe side,” she suggested. The fair would return again next year, and who knew if they’d manage to avoid Jessie and Mack.

 

He’d already considered that himself, but hadn’t wanted to suggest it. Cat had been so excited about the fair today that he hated to make her leave early. At the same time, he saw no reason to stick around and push their luck. The longer they stayed, the more likely they’d run into Mack. Already one person knew about them. The more who found out, the more likely Striker would find out too. It only took one person to slip up, and it would be all over town.

“Whatever you want. The crowd’s large. I doubt we’ll see anyone else we know.” He wanted to tell her to eat faster, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

She picked up her fork and pulled her pie closer to her. “I saw the joust. That’s my favorite event here. Maybe we can stop somewhere on the ride back.”

He loved the beach and ocean no matter the time of year. A particular beach not far from the fairgrounds was one of his favorites. It was a place he went whenever he needed time to think away from everything and everyone. He’d never taken a woman there, but Cat didn’t need to know that.

“It’s still early. We can stop at Horseneck Beach and spend as much time as we want there.”

“Never heard of it, but I’m game. I like walking on the beach.”

That didn’t surprise him.

Tony ripped a chunk off his turkey leg and popped it in his mouth. His appetite had bit the dust the moment he saw Jessica Quinn, but since Cat sat eating her pie, he should attempt to eat some of his food too.

Somehow, the wood-roasted turkey rejuvenated his appetite and soon he’d finished half the meat.

“I can’t eat any more.” She pushed the rest of her pie away. “Do you want any of it?”

“Nah, I’m not a big fan of pumpkin. Since you’re done, let’s go. I’ve had enough of this.”

The odds of running into Mack and Jessie were slim. Regardless, he still kept an eye on the crowd as they walked through the fair and back to the parking lot. The apprehension making him wish he hadn’t eaten so much didn’t disappear until they sat on his bike and pulled on their helmets.

Cat’s arms tightened around his waist, and she leaned against his back, causing an emotion he couldn’t label to settle in his chest. It wasn’t lust or desire. He knew those two emotions well, and whatever lurked in his chest now, didn’t resemble either. Actually, it resembled —

Nope, he was not going to venture down that path.

Tony turned his motorcycle down a deserted side road and gunned it. During the summer, that road contained too much traffic to enjoy his bike like this, but at this time of year, few people used the street.

He passed the sign for the beach’s main parking lot. The entire area looked empty, which he’d expected. While bright and sunny, the air remained crisp and cool, a quintessential New England fall day.

“How did you discover this beach?” Standing, she hung her helmet on his bike, and he immediately missed having her body pressed against him. “When I think of the beach, I think of the Cape or Newport. I never think to head out this way.”

“I was just out riding one day and found it. I like it here better than the Cape, especially in the summer. The Cape gets too busy.” Together they walked across the lot and down the steps to the sand. “Let me know if you get cold.” He put his arm across Cat’s shoulders.

For a while, they walked along the empty beach in silence toward his favorite spot. As it often did when something troubled him, the waves and fresh ocean air chased away his unease.

“You’re more relaxed now,” Cat said.

“What?”

“Before, I could feel the tension in your back. Now it seems gone.” She squeezed his waist, the tiny gesture forcing him to swallow down the lump in his throat.

“This place always relaxes me. That’s one of the reasons I like it here.” He led them to a small out cropping of rocks and his favorite spot to sit and think.

“When something bothers me or I need to think, I like to go walking, even if it’s below zero degrees out. I’ve probably walked every street in North Salem.”

He could relate to that. Following Isabella’s accident, he’d spent countless hours here, even though it had been the dead of the winter.

“Are you worried Jessie will say something to Mack?”

Tony sat and made room for Cat next to him. “Nah, I trust her. I just have a lot on my mind.”

“I’m a good listener if you want to talk.”

Some of what bothered him, he didn’t want to discuss with anyone, let alone Cat. “Work stuff is driving me crazy.”

“Are you and Richard still planning to expand?”

“Looks that way, but nothing is settled yet. He’s scouted a few locations in Providence and Hartford that look ideal.”

“If it happens, will you move?”

Was that sadness in her voice? It had been a long time since anyone but his family cared where he planned to live.

“No. Richard wants a change, so if we do this, he’ll take over personal training at the new facility and we’ll hire a manager to run that gym.”

“That’s good. North Salem wouldn’t be the same without you around.”

Other than his family and a few close friends, he doubted anyone in North Salem cared. He was fine with that. What about Cat though? Would she care if he moved to Connecticut or Rhode Island?

As if it matters. She’s in this for the fun, just like me.

“You’re right. Sean wouldn’t know what to do with himself without me around.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and right away, he kissed her forehead.

“Striker still moving in next weekend?”

“He dropped a few things off today and picked up a key.”

The disappointment in Cat’s voice echoed his own.

“While he’s with you, we can meet for dinner in the city. Maybe stay there for a few nights too.”

“Dinner yes, but I don’t know about staying in the city. Striker will ask questions if I don’t come home.”

“You don’t have to answer to him, Cat.”

Lifting her head, she sent a cool stare in his direction. “I know that, Tony.”

“Hey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I just hate the idea of not seeing you until Striker moves into his new condo.”

“Me too, but I don’t want to lie, and Striker can be tenacious when he wants to know something. If the tables were reversed, wouldn’t you be the same way if your sister just didn’t come home?”

In a similar situation, he’d go out looking for his sister if she didn’t come home for days. Now, like in the past, he considered their other options. The best idea would be to use this event as an excuse to end things. They’d both gone into this relationship knowing it was a short-term fling. Neither had any expectations for anything more, so why not call it quits now while their secret remained safe.

Or they could both say to hell with it and tell the world. They were both adults. If they wanted to spend time together, it wasn’t anyone’s business.

“It’s only for two and a half weeks,” she said.

Yeah, two and a half weeks of nothing but friendly dinners, text messages, and cold showers. With a little luck, Sean would need help tearing something else down during those two weeks. He found demolition a great way to get rid of frustration, and he expected to experience plenty of it in the near future.

“Maybe I can stop by and visit your office at the gym.” Cat massaged his thigh. “It has a door that locks, right?”

Either he was starting to rub off on Cat or he’d seriously misjudged her before. “It does, and you’re welcome to come by anytime.”

“Anytime?” Her hand slipped up his thigh and over his growing erection. “Won’t someone notice if I’m there every day?”

Tony grabbed Cat’s hand, halting her movements. Two months ago, he would’ve considered making love on the beach, but the temps today were a little too chilly. “No.” He held onto her hand as he kissed her, his lips and tongue doing to her mouth what he wanted to do to her body.

“Do you want to spend the night at my place?” she asked, sounding breathless when he moved to kiss her neck. “I’ll even cook you breakfast in the morning. How does waffles and fresh strawberries sound?”

“Will you feed the strawberries to me?” They’d both enjoyed feeding each other grapes in bed the previous weekend.

“You might be able to convince me to do that.” She tugged on his earlobe with her lips as she wiggled her hand free from his. When she touched him again, his erection pressed against his zipper.

“I’m good at that.” He squeezed her leg and took in a deep breath. His earlobes tended to be a sensitive area, a fact she had learned weeks ago and one she exploited regularly. “What do you say we head out?”

Much more of her teasing, and he’d ignore the cool temperatures and make love to her right there.

Cat released his earlobe. “Ready when you are.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. Considering how limited their time together would be soon, he didn’t want to waste any of it sitting on a chilly beach. “Any chance you picked up some whipped cream when you got those strawberries?”

“Waffles aren’t the same without strawberries and whipped cream.” She smiled at him, and he noticed the faint glint of humor in her eyes.

“I had other things in mind for it.”

“I figured you would” Pressing her lips against his, she gave him another taste of what he had to look forward to when they reached her apartment.