Chapter Ten
Bud’s was a bar and grill on the main street in Lakeside that looked like it wanted to appeal to everyone, and from the number of tables filled, it did. It was part sports bar, part neighborhood pub, part family diner. Huge pictures of local sports teams hung behind the bar, and tall pub-style tables and chairs filled that side of the large room. At least a dozen huge flat-screens were hung on the walls. Sports games played on the ones closer to the bar. The screens at the other end of the room played cartoons and do-it-yourself shows.
“I can’t wait to see what Ethan Bradford comes back with after those posts.” Ginny laughed as they were seated at a pub table by the bar. “Are you hungry? I’m starving.”
“Me, too. I’ve been stripping wallpaper all day, remember?” Anita studied Ginny, her wide grin and bright eyes. “You’re having a ball with this campaign, aren’t you?”
“I am. And I feel like I’m making a difference.”
“I think you are. Do you handle the online work for the company?”
“Yeah, but there’s only so much I can do with the company’s page and website. This is more fun. The work stuff is kinda boring.”
“Have you thought about posting some fun things on the company page? There must be funny things that happen around the place. Human-interest stuff. Maybe unusual things that get salvaged? Feature some of the funky and unique items in your showroom.”
“Why didn’t I think of that? I’ll run it by Noah and Aunt Donna, but I bet they’ll love it. Thanks.”
The waitress came over, and after Anita ordered an apple martini and Ginny a frozen margarita, Anita cleared her throat. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“The first time we met, you were quite confrontational. You obviously didn’t like me. What happened to change your mind? I mean, I assume you’ve changed your mind.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.” Ginny’s cheeks pinked, and she lifted a shoulder. “We’re kinda protective of the guys. You know, they haven’t had the best luck with women. But then you agreed to let Noah do the work on your house, and you didn’t have to, especially when you found out about the publicity for his campaign. And I could tell he liked you. I realized he’s a big boy, and I wouldn’t be happy if he tried to get between me and a guy I liked. If there were ever a guy around here I liked.”
“You don’t need a guy to be happy, you know.”
“Thank goodness, because I’d be downright miserable.” Ginny took a sip of her margarita. “Still, I miss the snuggling, you know? Long kisses. Hard muscles.”
“Come on, you can say it.” Anita winked. “Sex. Who doesn’t miss sex?”
Ginny giggled and glanced around. “Yeah. Sex. I miss sex.”
“How long has it been?”
“Two years,” Ginny whispered. “How long for you?” Then her cheeks turned bright red. “Oh yeah.”
“Nothing to be embarrassed about.” Anita glanced at her watch. “About…eighteen hours?”
“Here’s to sex.” Ginny took a deep drink, and Anita joined her. It was fun to have some girl time. She rarely went out like this with other women. Most of the year, she was working or painting.
“But seriously,” Anita said. “Two years?”
“Yeah.” Ginny slumped in her seat.
“We need to get you laid. Isn’t there anyone around here who could take care of that for you?”
“This is a small town. Either I’ve studied them and realized they’re not the right guy for me, or I’ve already dated them and realized they’re not the right guy for me.”
“Then you need to venture out of your comfort zone. I travel a lot, thank goodness. I’ve found most of my guys outside the U.S.”
“Do you think I have to go that far?” Ginny groaned. “I don’t like to fly.”
“How else are you going to see the world?”
“I don’t necessarily have to see the world. Just meet some new guys.” Ginny leaned forward. “So who was your last guy? Where did you find him?” When Anita just smiled, Ginny said, “Come on. Let me enjoy a little vicarious action.”
“Okay. Last summer I met Jean-Paul. In Paris.”
Ginny sighed dramatically. “You’ve been to Paris? Was it beautiful?”
“Yes.” Anita grinned. “So was Jean-Paul.”
Ginny waved over the waitress. “We need another round. And two orders of chicken fingers and fries.” She glanced at Anita. “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” Anita usually tried to avoid fried food, but what the hell.
“I heard all that grease soaks up the alcohol so you can drink more.” Ginny shrugged. “So…Jean-Paul? Ooh la la. Tell me more.”
“I met him on my first day in Paris last summer. He was a waiter at a little café downstairs from where I was staying. So young and beautiful. He painted my portrait while I was there.” She smiled at the great memories of the previous summer. One of the best Julys. One of her favorite places.
She thought back to Noah’s question earlier. She hadn’t realized that her July guys affected her memories of the location all that much, but of course they did. Was she turning as bitter as her mother if she couldn’t admit the men weren’t interchangeable?
Even if they were all alike in some ways, of course they each had their own personalities. Their own likes and dislikes. Jean-Paul had been especially fun loving and energetic. Of course that would make her memories of Paris special.
No wonder Noah had been upset when she’d told him the men she spent time with hadn’t been special. Hadn’t been important even though she’d been intimate with them. She’d basically told him he wasn’t important to her, either.
If she wasn’t careful, she was going to turn into her mother.
“Where else have you been? Who else have you met?”
“Giorgio was a gondolier in Venice. Pedro was a tour guide in Rio. Mick pulled drafts in a pub in Dublin.”
“Stop. Stop. I can’t take it.” Ginny laughed, and Anita realized she might have sounded as if she were bragging. “I can’t believe you’ve traveled to all these places. And met all these men. Didn’t you ever want to settle down with one of them?”
“God, no. I’m not interested in a serious relationship.”
Ginny froze. “So you’re not serious about Noah?”
Shit. “I like Noah a lot. But my life is in Philadelphia, and his is here.”
“You could work it out if you wanted to.”
There was no point in explaining to Ginny why she didn’t want to. “Maybe. But that would be between me and Noah.”
Ginny sat back in her chair, but she was still stiff when she replied, “You’re right. None of my business.”
“Please don’t be like that. I like Noah a lot.”
Ginny perked up. “More than Jean-Paul?”
“Definitely. More than any of the other guys.”
“Were they like you described Jean-Paul? Young and charming and sweet?”
Anita took a sip of her drink. No lying. “Not all of them were much younger than me.”
Ginny drilled her with her gaze. “But they were safe. They were guys you knew you’d never get serious about.”
Anita was saved from answering when the waitress came with their orders. “Starving,” she said and shoved some fries in her mouth.
But Ginny didn’t dig into her food; she’d obviously rather dig into Anita’s life. “Noah’s different, isn’t he? From the other guys you dated? I love my cousin, but he’s not young or charming or sweet.”
Anita swallowed. “No, he’s not.”
“He’s handsome and responsible and hardworking. He’s funny. He’s smart and loyal and—”
“Ginny, you don’t have to try to sell me on Noah. I know what a great guy he is.”
“Then what’s the problem? Yeah, you live hours away from each other, but it’s not like you have to fly across an ocean to see each other. If you wanted to work it out, you could, and that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. I’m dying of hunger.”
While they ate their meal, people stopped at their table from time to time to meet Anita, give their condolences, and tell her how excited they were to see the restoration had started. A few made comments about her supposed romance with Noah. Some were for it, some against. As if they thought they should have some say in the matter. Anita smiled and nodded and took another sip of her second drink. Or was it her third? She’d lost track.
The greasy food might have soaked up some of the alcohol, but she still had enough in her bloodstream to smooth out the tension that had started to build after Ginny’s observations about her other July guys. And the reminder of how much she really liked Noah. It should probably worry her, but she wasn’t going to think about it now.
Anita smothered the last fry with ketchup. “I forgot how good fried food is.”
“That damn Ethan,” Ginny mumbled. She’d given into temptation and checked the village page. She pushed the phone into Anita’s hand. “He posted a picture of stacks of salvaged material in the yard.”
There was text that went along with the picture. “Noah Colburn collects old junk. What does he know about running a village?”
“Shit.”
Ginny grabbed the phone back. “I have another picture of the pile of rubble the Packard house is now.” She stabbed the keys. “There.”
“What did you say?”
“Ethan Bradford is destroying our memories like he’ll destroy our town.”
“Good one.” Anita waved both arms to signal the waitress. “Another round for me and my friend.”
…
As soon as Noah and Sam entered Bud’s, Noah heard Anita’s voice over the din of conversations. He scanned the crowded room and found her laughing with Ginny at a table for four near the bar. He nudged Sam and headed that way.
Anita’s hair was pulled up into a messy bun that left her slender neck bare except for some sexy wisps that tickled her nape. Her loose shirt hung over one shoulder, and he fisted his hands to stop from reaching over and yanking it up. A purple stone hung from a long silver chain and was cradled between her breasts. She wore the gauzy skirt again with the sparkly sandals. He wanted to drag her out of here and take her home. Now.
“Hello, ladies,” Noah said. How could he have thought he could go even one night without her? He was in big trouble.
Anita looked up and her slightly crooked, slightly intoxicated smile took his breath away. “Hi.” The smile died. “I thought you had work to do tonight?”
“Anita Delgado, this is my friend, Sam Hernandez. He’s the local vet, and he’s on the village board. We had a dinner meeting to discuss campaign strategy. Now that’s over, we thought we’d stop for a drink.”
“Would you guys like to join us?” Ginny had always blushed easily, but why was her face pink now? What had she and Anita been talking about? “Hey, Sam.”
“Hey, Gin.” Did Sam really do that body sweep with his eyes before he claimed the seat next to Ginny? “Nice to meet you, Anita.”
“Same here.” She smiled at Sam, but her smile faded when she turned to Noah. He couldn’t blame her for being uncertain of his attitude after the way he’d left her earlier. “I didn’t think I’d see you tonight.”
He took the vacant chair beside Anita and leaned close to murmur in her ear. “Sorry about the way I left.”
She kept her voice low, too, though both Sam and Ginny were watching them with interest. She placed her hand on his knee under the table, and his body heated, just like that. “I’m sorry for my stupid remarks. I speak too often without thinking.”
He glanced at the other couple at the table, still unabashedly studying them. He brushed his hand up her arm and felt the answering shiver. “Maybe we could talk later?” He gestured for the waitress and ordered drinks for them all.
“Okay.” But Anita slid her phone onto her lap and quickly texted him. “Make-up sex tonight?”
Noah let out a quick laugh before he smothered it. Man, he was falling hard. “Yes! Begging will be involved.”
Anita giggled. When had he ever heard her giggle? “Salvage man! You surprise me.”
He liked knowing he could surprise her. “Naked. On your knees.”
She glanced at him and let another giggle escape. “YOU naked on your knees.”
He couldn’t resist bumping his shoulder lightly against hers. He’d like to be bumping other parts with her. “On the bed. On the floor. Against the wall.”
“I’m on top!”
“On the top. On the bottom. 69.”
Anita let out a surprised laugh. Yeah, he shocked himself these days.
“Are you guys sexting?” Ginny’s shocked whisper could probably be heard over the conversations at neighboring tables. Sam shushed her and squeezed her hand as Noah looked up guiltily from his phone. They’d gotten a little carried away.
“Of course not.” Anita’s reply was probably a little louder than necessary, but hopefully it would counteract any possible sexting rumors. “I was showing Noah the last post about Ethan you put up on the page.”
Noah frantically searched for the post. Saw the photo of the demolished Packard house and Ginny’s post. Not really funny, more negative than he’d like, but he’d run with it. “That’s a good one, Ginny.”
“Noah told me you volunteered to be his campaign manager,” Sam said, focusing his attention on Ginny. Interesting. “You’ve been doing great things with the village page. Maybe we could get together some time and talk over some other strategies.”
Ginny’s eyes widened. “Sure. I’d like that.”
Her voice was a little breathless, like Sam had asked her on a date. Huh, maybe he had.
Anita raised her glass. “Hey, Ginny, maybe you won’t need to take that trip, after all.”
Noah didn’t have a clue what Anita meant by that, but his cousin’s face turned an even brighter shade of red.
…
An hour later, Anita was naked, on her knees on the rug in the center of the living room between the sofa and the fireplace. It wasn’t as romantic as it sounded, but then she didn’t want romance, did she? The mantel was bashed, the grate dark and empty. It was too warm for a fire. For an odd moment, she was sorry she wouldn’t be here to see it in action. Someone else would own it by then. Would listen to the crackle of the burning wood and watch the flames dance, snuggling on the sofa with someone they loved.
Loved? Maybe love worked out for some people, but not for her. Why was she thinking about love anyway? This was lust. This was her fling. This was sex.
Time to think about sex.
Her salvage man had surprised her with those sexy texts. He seemed to be loosening up, and she liked it. It must have been true about the greasy food soaking up the alcohol, because she didn’t feel drunk at all. Except on Noah.
She watched him shed his clothes, revealing the body she’d yearned for since he walked into the bar. She couldn’t believe he’d suggested he’d like to see her kneeling. It had taken all her control to sit through another round of drinks and make small talk with Ginny and Sam. All she’d wanted to do was drag Noah out of there and get to where they were right now.
He’d mentioned begging, too. Why would she beg? What would she beg for? She’d already apologized, and he had, too. There was only one thing she wanted now. She burned for him, and she found herself begging after all. “Hurry, Noah. Please hurry.”
He tossed a condom on the rug and circled around her, brushed his hand over her hair, and trailed a lazy finger along her shoulder. She shivered as the intense tingles danced over her skin.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
He continued to stroke her as he slowly moved around her. Anticipation kept building. His heavy erection teased her. She reached out for him, but he shook his head. “Not yet.”
She huffed. “You know this rug isn’t as fluffy as it appears. The floor is damned hard on the knees.”
He stopped and locked her gaze with his. “Can’t you handle it?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Of course I can handle it.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “That’s what I thought.”
She couldn’t keep quiet, maybe because she wanted to be using her mouth for something else. Or maybe because her stomach was full of nerves and her skin overrun with need. She couldn’t bear to kneel and do nothing but wait. “Are you going to make me stay here all night?”
“You’re used to being in control, aren’t you?”
“Control? Are we playing some kind of sex game?”
“This is no game, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? “I thought we were going to have sex.”
“We are. Can’t you feel it? Sex isn’t only the climax. It’s not only the thrusting and the coming. I thought you were experienced at this kind of thing. Don’t you know that sex tonight started as soon as I walked into the bar and found out you were already there? When we looked in each other’s eyes and knew we were okay. That we’d forgive each other and move on. The texts. The drinks. The smoldering looks. Your hand squeezing my thigh. My hand stroking your arm. It was all part of the sex we’re having tonight, right?”
Her mouth was dry from panting as she listened to his deep voice slowly speaking the words that were turning her on.
“Foreplay,” she murmured. She shifted on her knees. Her whole body was throbbing. Aching.
“If you want to call it that. But I’ve always thought that sex was the whole deal. Sometimes it’s quick and hard, and yeah, the climax is the only thing that matters. But that’s not the only way to have sex. Sometimes the touches and teases and anticipation are as great as the orgasm. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t know. Orgasms are pretty awesome.” She reached for him again, but he stepped away.
“Tonight, the climax isn’t the only thing that matters.” He dropped to his knees in front of her. “You’re what’s important to me. I want you to know I’m thinking about you, seeing you, wanting you every moment tonight.”
And then she got it. “I’m not thinking of any other man but you tonight. Believe me. You’re important to me, too.”
He drew her close, burying his face in her hair. “I know.”
His scent surrounded her. He swept his hands over her back, and the flames that weren’t burning in the fireplace were lit inside her. “Let’s show each other.”
He brushed his lips over her mouth, and she opened to him. He dipped his tongue inside, teasing her. She didn’t want a dip, she wanted a plunge, but she held back, because if he was taking things slowly for her, she could do the same for him. Still, she couldn’t resist. She sucked on his tongue, tasting him. Claiming him.
No. Drinking him in. There was no claiming going on.
Noah moaned, and she swallowed the needy sound. She drove her fingers through his hair, tugging the short strands to bring him even closer. Her breasts pillowed against his hard chest, the hair there tickling her nipples and sending even more sensations buzzing through her.
Before long, he pulled away enough to rest his forehead against hers. “Are you sure you’re not cold?”
“No, I’m hot. You?”
“You’ve heated me up, sweetheart. But you’re right about the knees.” Without warning, he gathered her close and brought her down onto the rug with him. “Much better.”
“Mmm. I love feeling you on top of me.”
His large hands framed her face. “It’s not too much? Too heavy?”
Anita turned her head to kiss his palm. “Never.” She spread her legs, and he settled between her thighs. His erection fit perfectly into the cleft between her sensitive labia, stimulating her throbbing clit. She wrapped her legs around him and rocked her hips.
Noah chuckled softly. She dropped her legs as he kissed, licked, sucked on her nipples and then abandoned them to nibble down her ribs.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders and moaned his name.
“I know. I know,” he murmured as he kissed down her body, leaving wet spots that cooled her skin as he continued down. “Let me love your body. Give it the attention it deserves.” He tickled her navel with his tongue.
In the back of her mind, Anita knew she should rebel against the L word, but she couldn’t find it in her to complain. Most of the other July guys had claimed that they loved her, but she’d known it wasn’t true. With Noah…
No. She’d promised him she wouldn’t think of the other men she’d been with, and she wasn’t. Not in any way that mattered. But the thought that Noah used the word sincerely and not coated with charm, not spouting the word because he thought she wanted to hear it, sent shivers of a different kind through her body. She should be worried, should push him away.
Instead, she arched up against him and yearned to hear it again.
Noah shifted so that he knelt at her side and then leaned over to nuzzle her abdomen again. He continued to nibble down her body until he reached the apex of her thighs. She couldn’t help crying out when he dipped his tongue in to tickle her clit. He hummed with obvious pleasure as he stretched out beside her. She shivered as he rolled her onto her side and settled his mouth on the sensitive flesh between her legs. She opened to him and welcomed him there at the same time she grabbed his hips and took his erection in her mouth. His taste was heady and salty, and she took him deep, savoring him. He devoured her, too, in long, slow licks, and the mix of sensations threatened to overwhelm her.
Anticipation was sweet, but once he niggled her clit with his tongue, that orgasm they’d been talking about rose up and washed over her. She let go of him and cried out her release.
But it wasn’t enough. This sex had been going on for a couple of hours. There was still more to be anticipating. She grappled for Noah’s shoulders and climbed over him, onto him. Stretched over him for a deep, wet kiss. Anita grabbed the condom and rolled it on him. Then lowered herself onto his thick erection. He grabbed her hips and slammed up into her as if he knew this was what she needed. She had no doubt it was what he needed, too.
Anticipation only got you so far.
They rode each other wildly, the slowness, the softness forgotten. A second orgasm hit her moments before Noah climaxed in her arms. When he shouted her name, she closed her eyes and memorized the beautiful sound to take out during the coming year, when she was alone and remembering her July in Lakeside.
After their breathing settled closer to normal, Noah dropped a quick kiss on her nose and then rolled her off him. Instead of rising to take care of the condom, he said, “Hmm.”
“What?”
He reached under the sofa and pulled out an ancient, beat-up baseball bat. “I think I found what Aggie used on the mantel.”