Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
“Diana!” Miss Mary’s smile was big when the bell over the door announced Diana’s arrival. “I’ve got that casserole you ordered in the back. Luther,” she called, “get Diana’s cheesy potato casserole. She’s here to pick it up.”
“Thank you, Miss Mary. Looks like you’re pretty busy today.”
“Shoo-wee, child, yes. It’s always like this right before Thanksgiving. We cook a lot of food, sell a lot of casseroles.” She mopped her face with a bandana she kept tucked into where her apron tied at her waist. “This may be the year I decide to retire.”
Diana grinned. “I’ve heard that you say that every year, and then every year you keep on going.”
Miss Mary laughed. “Well, I probably do. Ain’t getting any younger. But I like cookin’, and folks seem to like eating, so I just keep doing it.”
Luther brought out the casserole, and Diana paid for it, chatted a bit more, and then went to the doctor’s office to hand it off to Emma Sutton.
“Hey, Diana. Is that Miss Mary’s cheesy potatoes?”
“It is indeed.”
“Mmm, smells divine. I’ll just pop it in the fridge and take it to Mama after work. You didn’t have to bring anything, but she appreciates it.”
Diana shrugged. “Your mother is so sweet to invite all of us over tomorrow. Therefore, I agree with everyone else that the least we can do is bring some dishes.”
“Honestly, I’m glad it’s potluck. Mama will do her famous dressing and the mashed potatoes—oh, and the pumpkin pies—but everything else is taken care of, and that’s going to make the day so much easier. She’ll fuss on her table settings and making sure everything is perfect anyway.”
“I’m sure it will be.”
Emma studied her. “How are the ribs doing?”
“So much better. Hardly any pain unless I twist a certain way.”
“Good. Another week for the cast and we’ll see how the wrist is. Did you make an appointment with physical therapy?”
“I did.”
“What a good patient you are.”
Diana nodded to the other woman’s protruding belly. “How are you and Baby feeling?”
“I feel great, honestly. Blaze fusses at me, but I’d go crazy if all I did was sit around. Honestly, men have weird ideas about us sometimes, you know?”
Diana laughed. “You mean like we’re delicate and need looking after?”
“That’s it,” Emma said with a laugh.
They talked a while longer and then Diana consulted her watch. “I need to run to the library. Paisley called to tell me that Louise Penny mystery I wanted is available.”
Emma smirked. “Couldn’t say no to Mr. Watson, could you?”
Diana shook her head. “Who can? He’s kind of adorable—and pushy too. Plus, he named his book club How I Met Your Murderer. Who can say no to that? But I’m a Bookalicious Bestie first and foremost.”
“We’ve got the best books,” Emma said.
“Damn right. I’ve read all the two-dicked blue aliens now. They go fast, and they’re such fun.”
And Alex approved of how absolutely horny they made her, which was a plus. Though he had yet to really let go with her. Still too worried about her injuries. It’d been almost a month now, so he was going to have to get over that real soon.
“I know. Who would have ever thought those would be the feel-good happy books I’d want to read when the world was too much to deal with?”
They looked at each other. Both of them said, “Nikki,” at the same time. Then they laughed.
“Poor Callie. I don’t think she’s stopped blushing yet.” Emma made a shooing motion with her hand. “Okay, you, get to the library or I’ll make you talk to me until my next patient arrives.”
They shared a quick hug and then Diana was on the way to the library. She waved at Miriam McClinton as she passed the baby store, Little Blooms. She’d already bought presents for Emma and Rory’s babies, and she’d probably buy a few more soon. Judy Simpson was locking up at the Sutton’s Creek Bee.
“Hi, Ms. Simpson.”
“Oh, Diana! How’s our resident Fibbie? Solve any crimes? Did you check into that illegal gambling ring I told you about?”
Diana kept her expression as neutral as possible. “I’m good, thank you. I did ask Mr. Warren about the gambling, but he assured me they were playing Left Right Center with dollar bills. Then he showed me the dice, and I have to say I don’t really think there’s anything illegal going on there.”
Judy’s face twisted. “Well, then. Sneaky of him. But don’t you worry, I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Diana waved and kept walking. When she reached the library, Colleen Wright was coming out the doors, a stack of Danielle Steele novels in her arms.
“Diana! How are you, dear?”
“Wonderful, Mrs. Wright. How about you?”
“Oh, just peachy.” She leaned in. “Poor Reba though. She was practically inconsolable when she learned that terrible Mr. Ackerman was arrested. He was the first man to ask her out in quite a while. I’m trying to cheer her up with some books.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine with time.” Diana hesitated. “Clay was a nice guy who hid who he really was from a lot of people. I’m so sorry he hurt Reba’s feelings.”
“Thank you for saying that. I tried to warn her. The spirits never liked him. But I couldn’t come right out and say it, could I? She would have thought I was interfering.”
Diana thought of Colleen sitting behind Ackerman in the wagon, glaring, or joining him and Reba for dinner uninvited. But she didn’t point out any of it. “You are very wise.”
Colleen patted her arm. “Well, I must be on my way. Happy Thanksgiving to you and that handsome man of yours.”
“Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving.”
Mr. Watson was the first to greet her when she walked into the library. Today’s shirt was butter yellow with long-sleeves. It said That’s a horrible idea….what time?
“No unicorn today?” she asked.
“I have some new ones I’m saving for next week,” he told her. “Are you coming to book club next Thursday?”
“I am.”
“Excellent. If you care to bring that gorgeous man along with, please do. If nothing else, we can sit him in the corner and gaze upon him.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Diana got her book, talked to Paisley about tomorrow at the Suttons, and then drove back to the farm.
She’d been staying there since Alex and his team found her.
She was going to have to let the apartment go, but she’d do it after Christmas.
She wanted to be able to stay in town with Alex during the festivities if they wanted.
Too much making merry at the parade or a fun night at the Dawg? Go to the apartment.
She also wanted to find another tenant before she gave notice. Alex had told her it was up to her what she wanted to do, but she knew she wanted to live at the farm with him. She had zero doubts that Uncle Stephen would come through on his promise.
Alex walked out on the porch as she parked beneath the tree. She went up the stairs and he greeted her with a kiss and a glass of wine.
“Mmm, delicious,” she said taking a sip as they held hands and walked inside. He would have led her to the kitchen, but she tugged him toward the bedroom instead.
“Diana,” he said softly as she pulled. But he’d dug in his heels like a stubborn donkey.
And she’d had enough. Just enough. She set the wine on the nearest surface and started pulling off her shirt.
“Babe, what are you doing?”
“I think you know, Magic Man. You’ve been sweet, you’ve taken care, and you’ve made me come. You’ve come too, but it’s all been so sedate. Like two people afraid to tell the other what they want in case it’s too shocking or raunchy.”
She dropped her shirt on the couch, unhooked her bra—thank heavens for a front clasp—and dropped that too. His eyes glazed as she hefted her boobs in her hands, tweaking her own nipples while he watched. The front of his jeans started to bulge.
“I need the man who isn’t afraid to unleash his passion on me, the man who will lick me into a screaming orgasm and then cram me full of his cock until I can’t breathe for want of him. I’m dying here, Alex. I need you to touch me like I’m not going to break.”
She unzipped her pants, shoved them down and kicked them off. Then she shed her panties until she stood completely naked. His jaw had dropped open, the pulse in his neck throbbing.
“Diana,” he said hoarsely. “I don’t want to accidentally hurt you.”
She went to him, hooked a hand around his neck, and pulled him down to her.
“You idiot. If something hurts, I’m going to tell you.
And if it feels fantastic, I’m going to tell you that too.
Just stop treating me like I’m made of glass.
I’m so happy here with you. I love Sutton’s Creek, love that people accept me and know who I am when I see them in town, and I love that we’re going to a big family Thanksgiving tomorrow with all the people we care about the most. But right now, I need a really, really good fuck, okay? ”
“Christ, Princess. The things you say.”
She wasn’t sure what he would do, but then he took her mouth like a storm.
Later, when she lay in bed panting, her pussy tingling from the aftershocks, her body limp and satisfied, she propped herself on an elbow and slid her gaze over his magnificent form.
The man was cut. Mouthwatering. Made to stare at.
Mr. Watson was right about that, but Diana was the only one who got to see the full package. Lucky her.
“Satisfied?” He quirked a grin.
“Supremely,” she said, stretching like a cat. “So, have we solved the dilemma? Will you be giving me the full dick experience from now on, not the limp dick one?”
He snorted. “Limp dick? Never, and you know it.”
She kissed his chest. “Well, no, it’s never been limp. I was talking more about the rating system.”
He threaded his hands in her hair, dragged her down to him, kissed her until she was ready to climb on and ride him again. “I love you, Princess. If the full dick experience is what you want, it’s what you get.”
“Mmm, I love the full dick experience. And you, who possesses said dick.”
He laughed. “Makes me wonder which of us you love more. Me or my dick.”
She wrapped her hand around him. “I love you equally.”