Harry
“Why are we stopping here?” Harry asked.
“I’m hungry. Our dinner’s cold by now, and besides, it’s too late to cook. Oh, and it’s my birthday.” Natalie put her car into park at her favorite restaurant, Cocoa. He could strangle his daughter for introducing her to the place.
Harry rolled his head around, blowing a raspberry into the air.
“Don’t do that. You owe me for tonight.”
“Thought you weren’t mad at me?”
“I’m not.”
“Why does this feel like a punishment then? Can’t I kiss your feet instead?”
“Tell you what, I’ll let you kiss my behind later.”
“How about now?” he smirked. He liked when she talked dirty, even when she hadn’t meant it that way. “I’ll put my face in your pus—”
“Harry Hunter. Git your grumpy self out of this car and into a booth inside that restaurant.”
“Yes, ma’am. I love it when you boss me.” Harry smiled despite himself and climbed out of her car. His joints didn’t crack as much as they had six months ago. After Mikey’s snarky comment about his waistline, Harry had taken up jogging again and did 150 crunches daily. Not bad for a 55-year-old. He felt eighteen again. Mostly.
Andrea Winston, the owner’s wife, greeted them at the hostess stand. “Nice to see you again, Natalie.” She gave Harry a stiff nod. The woman begrudged him for harassing her husband’s best friend, Mikey Hardin. Would Grace take his last name after they married? Of course, she would. She’d taken on that asshat first husband of hers last name, Bell. The things Harry thought about made no sense when he was overtired and stressed.
Andrea seated them at a quiet booth in the corner. Brown satin flowed down the walls like the room was one giant chocolate fountain. A waitress came by and took their drink order, except she came prepared with a pot of coffee and poured him a cup. Had they frequented Cocoa enough that the wait staff knew what he’d ask for?
Harry scanned the bar along the back wall. Lights backlit the liquor bottles lining the two-tier glass shelf. It made the glass look like ice. Surprisingly, his desire for a drink remained relatively tame. Manageable. He caught Natalie eyeing him, more out of curiosity than suspicion. He squeezed her hand, reassuring her that he was okay.
“I know this is a stupid question, but do think you’ll ever be able to have a drink without worrying you can’t stop?”
He shook his head and sipped his coffee. Thank God she wasn’t a drinker. That, he couldn’t handle tonight.
“Cody’s sentencing is next week, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Lance. His name’s Lance.”
“He’s still not talking?”
Harry linked elbows with her and pressed his lips to her temple. This grounded him. He never wanted to disappoint her, she deserved a sober boyfriend. “I didn’t think he would. Gave it one more shot.” Harry didn’t discuss many specifics. However, the Tattoo Killings made national headlines.
The waitress sidled up to their table and took their order.
“Grace asked me to be her maid of honor and Andrea to be her matron of honor,” Natalie said, breaking the silence after the waitress left.
“I guess this means I get to walk you down the aisle.”
“If you behave, I’ll let you get frisky with me in the coat check closet.”
Harry chuckled.
* * *
Natalie slipped into her bed beside him. There were too many good and bad memories at his house across the street. Harry stretched his achy legs. She rolled onto her side, facing away from him. He pulled her back to his front. “Are you still in the mood, birthday girl?” He smoothed his hand over her hip and bare thigh, and up her nightshirt. “You’re not wearing any underpants.”
Natalie twirled then straddled his hips. She leaned down and kissed him.
“Take this shirt off,” he said.
“No. I’m old.”
“You are not,” he said, running his hands along her ribcage under the shirt. “You act like 50 equals 100. You’re still young enough to have a baby.”
“What? Are you crazy? I am not. Have you seen how thin the skin on my hands are?”
“What do your hands have to do with the functionality of your womb? You’re not menopausal.”
“Can we discuss my womb another time? Like never?”
“How come you and McDingleberry never had kids?”
“I wanted to, but by the time my mind was ready, my body wasn’t. Forty was too old for me and then he left.”
Harry cupped her breasts and flicked the nipples with his thumbs. She released a sultry breath. Who needed Viagra? He couldn’t get any harder. His lips parted as she stroked the underside of his manhood with her wet lady parts.
“You tease…Natalie…” He reached between them. Her hand found the back of his and she took over, guiding him where he wanted.
A delicious pressure eased down his shaft. He throbbed inside her at the same beat as his heart. Thrusting his hips up toward her, he gripped her small waist. She was on the petite side, yet strong and scrappy. Another characteristic different from Annie. His late wife had stood tall for a woman.
Harry pushed aside thoughts that had no business in this bedroom, or maybe even in this house, and enjoyed Natalie. They moved in sync, giving and taking with their bodies.
Natalie placed her hands on his chest, holding herself upright. She moaned and her pants came faster, as did his. What a great end to a shitty day. They tipped off the orgasm cliff together, holding hands during the freefall.
He loved her, yet had trouble saying the words out loud. Did that mean letting go of Annie forever? Would she disappear? The thoughts were irrational, although that didn’t stop him from obsessing over them.