Chapter 16
16
Tovah spent most of the day that was left after her long soak, buying and arranging flowers in the backyard for Rose. She had made her grandma promise not to peek out the windows. When the time came for the big reveal, she’d come in and get her.
The time and effort were worth it to put a smile on Rose’s face. Of course, it also had a secondary benefit of keeping her hands and mind occupied while she waited for a call or text that never came.
And nope, she wasn’t going to be the one to crack first.
If he wanted her…again…he knew where to find her. If their night together was a one-off then let him be the one to say so. Until then, she was going to mind her own business and stay in her yard. Well, her grandma’s yard.
She had her hair up in a messy bun and old jeans and a work shirt of her grandpa’s that had somehow survived several household purges. The flannel was nice and warm with a long-sleeved T-shirt underneath, but still allowed her full movement without hampering her in the slightest.
The sun was getting ready to set, when she finished. She stood back to admire her work and heard Zach’s motorcycle coming down the street.
She gripped the little garden spade tighter, to ground herself in the moment. Even as she stood there bathed in the beauty of the winter garden, her feet wanted to move to the side of the house to watch him drive up. To greet him as he came up the walk.
No, she had to be stronger than that. He had all day to text her or say something, and he hadn’t. Not even a quick, little note to say he’d had a good time the night before.
Radio silence.
Tovah squared her shoulders and headed into the house to get Rose. It was time for the unveiling.
She stepped up onto the deck and opened the slider. “Okay, Grandma, it’s time.”
Rose was seated in the recliner watching some show about ancient archeology. “It’s almost dark out. You’ve been at that all day.”
“Yeah, it’s all right. The fresh air did me good.” Not to mention it kept her away from Rose’s knowing glances.
“I heard Zach pull up. Aren’t you going over there?”
Tovah shook her head and feigned confusion. “Why would I?”
Rose rolled her eyes. “Youth is wasted on the young.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” Tovah moved to the chair to help Rose stand, then she walked her to the slider. “Close your eyes. I want you to get the full effect.”
As they moved by the doorway, Tovah hit the light switch for the deck. Fairy lights she’d carefully wrapped around the railings and threaded through the potted plants, came on, bathing the garden in a golden glow.
When she had Rose in the center of it all, she said, “Open your eyes. Surprise!”
“Oh!” Rose put her hands to her mouth. She carefully turned in a circle to take it all in. “My goodness. This is absolutely beautiful, Tovah.” Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“Oh, Grandma, don’t cry.”
“Why are we crying?” Zach had let himself into the backyard. His deep voice invaded the garden only moments before he stepped up onto the porch.
“Look what Tovah spent the day doing for me.” Rose spread her arms out. “I made the comment that my garden was in sad shape since my fall, and she did this for me.”
Zach’s gaze came to rest on Tovah. Something shifted in the depth of his gaze, and she wasn’t quite sure what. He almost looked annoyed that she had spent the time working in the garden. What? Did he expect her to wait by her phone all day?
Well, she kind of had. The damn thing was stuck in her back pocket, set to both ring and vibrate so she wouldn’t miss his call. But he hadn’t called. So, why was she the one getting a dirty look?
His attention moved off her to study the work she’d put in. “It’s gorgeous. You’ve outdone yourself.”
And that comment irritated her on a basic level. How would he know if she had outdone herself or not? As far as any of their conversations went, she’d never discussed gardening or decorating at all. How would he have been able to assess her skill level. However, in the interest of peace, she overlooked the comment.
Tovah walked up to one of the planters and knocked on it a couple of time. “Not really. They’re in pots. Easy to move elsewhere. Rearrange for spring. This all took more than a few trips to the nursery today.”
“Have you eaten yet, Zach?” Rose butted in.
Tovah closed her eyes. With her back turned to Zach, he wasn’t going to see her reaction. “Pushing,” she whispered.
“I have. I stopped in town.”
The sinking feeling continued, and she had no way to stop it. At least he’d shown his face. That was at least neighborly. But like this morning, maybe he only wanted to check on Rose.
“I’ll cook us something after I wash my hands.” Tovah rubbed her palms together. “Did you want some coffee or tea, Zach?”
“No. I just came over to check on Miss Rose.”
All right. That answered that question. Message received.
Tovah opened the slider and started inside. “She’s good. We’re good. Thanks for asking.”
Only he hadn’t asked about her. So that was totally stupid of her. Oh, well. No calling it back now. She stood by the statement.
And this…this was why it was a bad idea to get involved with a man who lived next door. Made things completely awkward.
Tovah went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. She took a moment to simply stand in the center of the room, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. There. All the bad energy and feelings and learned behaviors that always tripped her up before were now out of her body and floating around the kitchen.
From now on, she’d act like the night before had never happened.
Once her hands were washed, she went through the freezer, cabinets, and found some lobster ravioli that wouldn’t take too long to make.
Put with a salad and some garlic bread and it would be a well-rounded meal.
Annoyed, Tovah looked out the slider. Rose was still out there talking to Zach. What in the hell was he doing letting her stand out there in the cold to yap his trap?
A few minutes later, Rose came in. Her face a study of consternation. “Well, doesn’t that just beat all.”
“What does?” Tovah tried to sound as if she was distracted by food prep and not interested in what they had been discussing on the deck.
Rose waved her hand in the air, dismissing the complaint. “Nothing. I just expected more from him, that’s all.”
Tovah gave a bark of laughter. “Grandma, he’s not interested in a relationship. Not even a short-term one. If you thought this was going to be some great love affair like you and Grandpa had, then you’re going to be disappointed.”
Rose made a face. “I think this conversation is the wrong way around. Aren’t I supposed to be the one comforting you?”
Tovah shook her head. “To comfort me, I’d have to be hurt. I’m not. I knew the score going in.”
And she just bald-faced lied to her grandma. Something she never thought to do in her life. In the interest of peace, it was important.
“I just don’t understand.” Rose shook her head again as if having a hard time making sense of the madness and limped back to her chair. “Do you need any help?”
“I’ve got it.” In more ways than one.
Zach did some things around the house that he’d let go for too long. If Tovah could work all day, he sure as hell could work all night—or at least until he fell asleep. Problem was that none of it mattered. What he wanted was Tovah to come over and spend time with him. And yes, have another night of exceptional sex.
But he’d seen the look on her face when he’d stepped into the yard and figured it might be best to give her a few days to rest and reset. He hadn’t missed the slight grimace when she’d moved, either. The woman was proud and in pain.
Because of him.
Because he’d been inside her, pumping as if she had been training for the sexual Olympics all her adult life. She hadn’t. He knew this going in. Tovah wasn’t the type of woman who had indiscriminate sex with a man. She was the type who waited for a commitment.
Something he could never give her.
He’d seen where that got the men of his family, and it wasn’t pretty.
After changing a couple lightbulbs, cleaning out the fridge, vacuuming the living room rug, he took a shower and then sat on the bed.
Sleep wasn’t even on the horizon. Mentally, he wanted to sleep. Emotionally and physically, he was buzzed. Every time he closed his eyes, he was treated to the replay of Tovah writhing under him. Her moans of pleasure and words of praise. And the bedcovers…Goddamn, they smelled of her perfume.
With savage annoyance, he got up and pulled the comforter off the bed and stripped the sheets. He dumped them in a pile next to the bed, then emptied the pillowcases.
Once he had the bed linens gathered, he picked them up and carried them to the laundry room. The sweet scent of Tovah filled his nose when he stirred up the sheets and pillowcases as he put them into the washing machine.
He poured the liquid in and then started the machine—then stood there. What in the hell was he doing? Trying to erase that she was here? Pretend she hadn’t spent the night changing his mind on curvy girls. Hell, she’d not only changed his mind but made him a true believer.
Zach went to the linen closet and pulled out another set of sheets and put them on the bed, then he laid down and stacked his hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.
What was she doing right now? Had she gone to bed already? Probably. Gardening wasn’t for the faint of heart or weaklings. It was physical and demanding. That on top of spending the night tearing up the bed with Zach and she was bound to want an early night.
The phone buzzed near his head. He looked at the screen. The anonymous texter strikes again.
This time it was a sound bite of a song. A very hot, explicit song. The singer was a woman with a sultry voice that made love to the lyrics.
The number wasn’t Tovah’s. It wasn’t one he recognized. Again. Who in the hell was this? It had to be the same person. What were the odds of having picked up more than one phone stalker? Probably pretty damn slim. But the phone numbers were never the same.
Time to call in a favor from one of his buds who did cyber security work.
He sent a quick text asking Bach to get in touch when available.
Then his thumb hovered over Tovah’s contact.
No. He had to say no to temptation. Tonight. At least. For both of their sakes. But damn if he didn’t want to offer to kiss her where it hurt. That would definitely lead to other things, and he’d be adding more injury on top of what he’d already done to her.
Since sleep wasn’t going to come anytime soon, he picked up a book on the bedside table and tried to get into the mystery that he still hadn’t finished. Most of the time, he had no trouble falling asleep. Tonight was going to be a real challenge. All because of the woman who lived next door.
Not Miss Rose, though in all honesty, she hadn’t been too happy with him when he’d left there earlier.
The idea he’d disappointed her sent guilt shooting through his heart and straight down to his stomach. That sweet, old senior didn’t deserve anyone to disappoint or hurt her. Well, for that matter, neither did Tovah. Then again, Tovah hadn’t seemed as if she much cared that he hadn’t called or texted her today. She was only worried about making her grandma happy and then making them some dinner. Hell, Tovah hadn’t even been the one to invite him to stay. That had come from Miss Rose as well.
Yep, Tovah was being the model hook up he’d always dreamed of. Hot, inventive, experimental, open, accessible, and aloof.
Why then had it bothered him so much when she’d done exactly what he wanted?
When he’d left the office that evening, he’d had every intention of going straight home and not speaking to her until tomorrow or the next day. Instead, he’d seen the porch lights on in the back and the fairy lights strung along the deck railing and smiled like an idiot at the display.
What in the hell was wrong with him?
He never decorated for the holidays. Didn’t see a reason since he lived alone. He didn’t really celebrate in the traditional way. He volunteered at the soup kitchen and made sure others had a good meal and warm place to enjoy it.
Doing so didn’t require that his house was decorated or that the lights sucked all the electricity in the tri-county area. Besides, holidays had really bad memories for him. Highlighting them by a celebration seemed counterproductive. Giving to others who might still have hope for the holidays seemed a better use of time.
Another reason to shun most relationships. Once a woman had all her hooks in a man, they thought that meant every waking moment and special occasion had to be spent together. Even Sasha hadn’t pressed him for what he’d call a real relationship. Not if he was completely honest about it. The definition between them was rather elastic. Considering she’d been seeing another man behind his back after asking him for exclusivity while they were together, her definition was damn near a broken rubber band.
He rolled over and gathered a pillow under his chin. A faint scent of Tovah’s perfume remained on the fibers beneath the fresh case.
A shot of pure arousal hit him right in the balls.
No, hold tight. Don’t give into the temptation.
Zach fell asleep in the fetal position, with the smell of Tovah in his head.