8. Turnover #2
No. Not this conversation again. The number of sex tips Patricia had provided on the drive up from San Francisco still haunted Haley.
Nate certainly hadn’t made her feel adequate in the sack.
They were both bored within six months of marriage.
She should have listened to the nagging voice in her head that it wasn’t supposed to be that way.
Yet, one mention of panties to Finn, and he claimed an untamable erection. No, Haley knew it wasn’t her fault. And she was loving every minute of imagining all the good stuff she’d been missing out on.
Right as Patricia continued her detailed instructions on how to keep one’s husband faithful, saying the words, “The woman should never expect an orgasm, but she can guide him along. And she must always be willing to take his penis—” Finn appeared, clearing his throat as he arrived.
Patricia glanced up at his untimely interruption.
His jaw clenched, flickering rapidly. “Dr. Mallory, your Vieux Carré. I don’t get many requests for that one, but I’m sure you’ll let me know if I didn’t get it right.” He slid the drink in front of her unceremoniously, refusing to take her bait.
Patricia’s lips awkwardly contorted in what might be a smile.
He delivered the rest of the table’s beers, asking Haley to let him know if the brew had enough bite to satisfy her.
Grady nodded to Finn. “We’re thinking of seeing if anyone wants to go out to Ahab’s tomorrow night. You in?”
Flipping the tray in his hand, Finn shrugged. “Love to, but uh, I’ve got some things to do up north.”
“No worries. Next time,” Grady offered. “Haley?”
Chewing her cheek, she tried to come up with an excuse. “I’ve got a deadline coming up. Next time?”
“Sounds good. Actually, while we’re on the subject, Claire’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. I’ll send you the info?”
Finn nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Patricia brought the fancy drink in clear glass to her lips, a near-smile teasing at her stiff cheeks. Satisfied, Patricia started on her next hot tip. Finn disappeared as she seemed to be heading into foreplay advice.
As she began what was likely to refer to male genitalia, again, Haley interrupted.
“So, Claire, any interesting cases lately?” Haley really, really couldn’t handle her mother saying the word penis again.
Especially when she was still enjoying the image of Finn…
well, of Finn enjoying their conversation this afternoon as much as she had.
Claire eagerly responded, “Always. I was rounding on a ranch a few miles downriver a few days ago. Most of the stalls were filled with the horses I had expected to attend to, but the last stall, typically empty, held a dog. An Australian shepherd in labor. The poor thing looked so exhausted. I jumped in and attended while she delivered seven healthy mutts. The family had no idea their dog was pregnant; they thought she’d been getting into the cat food again. ”
Grady reached under the table to link hands with his fiancée. His tone was dripping with sarcasm, but his smile genuine, as he said, “You are looking at the parents of a first-pick brown-and-blue-eyed mutt. In eight weeks.”
“As if you could turn one down after helping with delivery.” Claire gazed at her husband, grinning and utterly turning her fiancé to mush.
“As if I could turn down a free puppy. Not with that look in your eyes.”
Patricia picked up her drink and took another sip. “I suppose your friend knows his drinks.” Hey, a compliment. She really was trying. “We need to bump up that wedding so you can make me grandbabies. I will be a wonderful grandmother.”
Silence. No one dared respond to that one. Patricia hadn’t changed a poopy diaper or soothed a crying baby in her life.
Shutting her up, Grady grew a devious smile and said, “Why wait? We’re practicing on a nightly basis.”
“Really?” Patricia’s eyes lit up.
“Well, there’s an IUD in the way, but we keep trying anyway.” He winked at Claire.
That shut up Patricia for at least five minutes. For all her talk of penises, she was flummoxed at the idea of her son using his.
Speaking of penises. Damn, not a good segue.
Haley had been rather fixated on one in particular all evening.
Didn’t help she had a perfect view of him working the tap, tossing t-shirts and silverware bundles and whatever else back and forth with the server.
She knew exactly how hard those arms were, how smooth and warm that skin was, and how those lips tasted like a guilty pleasure and kissed as skillfully as he caught a football.
And that cowlick. Who knew she was a sucker for rebellious hair?
Okay, shift those thoughts. No penises at dinner. “You know,” she began, “It’s so weird being back. I’m bummed Trace is gone for the summer; aside from you guys, I don’t know many people in town anymore.”
The server discreetly delivered their meals and disappeared. Haley inhaled the savory scent and dug into her sweet potato fries.
Claire released the lip she’d been gnawing on and lit up with a smile. “Sophie’s been bugging everyone to make a hiking day happen. You would have been in Pippa’s grade, right?”
Nodding her head, Haley swallowed her bite and said, “A year behind. Aside from Trace, Pippa was one of my besties in elementary school.”
Grady looked up as if remembering. “I’d forgotten about that.
If you don’t mind sharing friends with your brother, we’ll rope you into hanging out.
Trace, well, she hangs out sometimes, but I’m not so sure…
Anyway, we get together at least once a month with Pippa and Lincoln, Asher and Sophie, Zane and Freya.
Finn and… well, Finn’s a regular since he got back a few months ago. ”
“I don’t remember Finn from when I lived here before.” Was that too obvious of a lead-in to find out more about him?
“Oh yeah, you wouldn’t. The Halseths moved to town after you left.” Grady looked over at the bar, but Finn was busy taking orders. “He’s had a rough time over the last few months, so we’ve been trying to drag him out.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. How so?”
Patricia chimed in, gesturing with her fork.
“Football player is the least of it. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. He chose to finish off the football season, not even coming home until he was injured. When it got into her bones, he grieved by hooking up with an old flame. Now he’s working as a bartender for his family’s restaurant when he could be doing something meaningful, like getting on SportsCenter or something. ”
Grady shook his head. “Gee, Ma. Tell us how you really feel.”
“I was just expressing my—”
Grady cut her off again. Good thing, as Haley wanted to kick her.
“He’s a good guy. Has had a shitty year.
And he’s my friend. Leave him alone. Whatever your gossip ring is spreading around, they ought to check their facts, and you can remember that you are a physician and would never treat one of your patients with such disrespect. ”
Spine straightening, Patricia took a delicate bite of lettuce. “My apologies.”
Damn, Haley had missed a lot since her last visit. She’d never seen Grady stand up to their mother this way, or anyone, really. Nor Patricia back down so quickly.
Finn caught her eye, things finally stabilizing at the bar as he’d caught everyone up.
Seeing Patricia’s stubborn expression, the awkward pall that had fallen over their table, he smiled sympathetically.
Looking around the restaurant first, he nodded his head toward the back.
He caught the server, said something Haley couldn’t hear, then disappeared to the back.
She cleared her throat and set down her napkin. “Excuse me a moment.”
Claire scowled in a feisty jealous look.
Haley smiled. “I’ll be five minutes.” Maybe ten.
Strolling past the bar, she breezed right past the bathroom, only to find the hall empty. An arm reached from the door to the alley and yanked her outside.
Thrill rushed through her veins as she found herself enveloped in Finn’s arms. Before she could catch her breath, he pulled her close and lowered his mouth to hers, savoring the stolen moment. Hand cradling her jaw, he pulled back just enough to gage her reaction.
Chocolate eyes laced with amusement and the same exhilaration that rocketed through her, he grinned.
“Sorry if I startled you. Was going to be a rough enough night, thinking about you on the other end of the phone this afternoon, then having you walk in my door and not being able to talk, well, I couldn’t resist.” He nipped a quick kiss again.
“Thanks for the save earlier.”
“Yeah, what the hell was that? Was your mother giving you blowjob tips?”
Haley nodded sadly, her cheek firmly parked in her teeth. “Apparently, if I want to keep a man around, I have to satisfy him in bed. Just asked twice-divorced Patricia, she is quite the expert.”
“I hope your stepdad knows what a lucky guy he is.” He rolled his eyes. “I really dislike your mother.”
“It’s mutual.” She nodded grimly.
“Can I go let her know you’re a hell of a kisser, and I have no doubt you’ll blow my mind when we get to the rest of the good stuff?”
“Please no. It would only add more fuel.”
“True. She’s never really liked me.”
“She doesn’t like anyone.”
“Fair point. Anyway, I really didn’t steal you away to talk about your mother.”
Trailing her hands along his abdomen, she looked up, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “What did you steal me away for?”
He nipped another kiss. “I was thinking of making some excuse, like nailing down plans for tomorrow, but I really just wanted to get my hands on you.”
Rising to her tiptoes, she gripped the back of his neck and swept her tongue over his. Groaning, he spread his hand over the small of her back and held on, advancing the kiss deeper until she forgot where they were, spinning somewhere on a fluffy white cloud.
Pulling away, his pupils dilated until he blinked back to reality, he stepped toward the door. “We should get back.”
Still blissfully shellshocked, she nodded.
He eased the door open and peeked inside. Coast clear, he beckoned her in first. She made a quick bathroom stop, then rejoined her family.
Patricia was returning the ticket to the server and smiled when she saw Haley approaching. “You know, there’s a glow about you today. Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”
“What? Mother. No.” There was little doubt Patricia didn’t know her at all, but her attempts to pay attention were painful.
She was tempted to say, No, I’m glowing because the sexy bartender was kissing me. And enjoying it. Because I know what I’m about in that area. Don’t need any tips. A bad marriage riddled with a terrible sex life does not mean a person isn’t good in bed; it’s all about the right partner.
She was half tempted to call her old friends and ask if they found Nate as disappointing as she did, or if he managed to be an attentive lover when he was breaking the rules.