Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A dam left Tracy lying limp, smiling, and sleepy. After disposing of the condom and washing up, he took another one out of the box. Might not need it considering she might be ready to go nite-nite, but better to have one handy.
Sure enough, when he returned she was sawing logs. She’d slid under the top sheet and pulled the comforter over her.
He stood for a moment enjoying the sight of her in his makeshift bed, her flame-red hair splayed across the white pillowcase. If they stuck with the plan, she wouldn’t be here again.
That wasn’t much fun to think about, so he circled the room blowing out votives. Oh, and the kitchen light was still on. He’d been focused on the issues and hadn’t turned it off when he’d gone to get the laptop.
The dishes were still where they’d left them, too. Should he ignore them? Laughing at himself, he walked over and cleared the table.
He shouldn’t be worried that Tracy would question his cleanliness. That said, he rinsed everything and put it in the dishwasher, picked up the placemats and wiped down the table before turning off the light.
Last of all he located his phone and set an alarm for six. When they’d changed the contract to include next week, they’d taken out the part suggesting one last roll in the hay beginning at six. But he still needed to get up and at least shower before he left for the barn.
Leaving the phone on the easy chair along with the contracts and the condom, he studied the logistics of getting into bed without waking Tracy. He’d also rather not freeze to death during what was left of the night.
She’d claimed the side closest to the sofa and most of the comforter. That put him next to the fire, which was almost out but would give off smoke during the night, which meant he couldn’t close the flue. Cold air would start whistling down that chimney any time now.
Aha. He could put on his sweats. He walked around the sofa and started digging them out of the pile when it dawned on him that he had more blankets. All that good sex had clearly fried his brain cells.
Fetching a nice soft one from the hall closet, he folded it in two, laid it out on his side and crawled under it. Except now he was on top of the sheet and Tracy was under it.
What was the point of sleeping beside her if he couldn’t snuggle? He got up, peeled back the top sheet and the blanket, and climbed in again.
“Are you finally settled?”
“You’re awake?”
“Well, duh. I halfway woke up when you come back from the bathroom. I figured you’d climb right in and I’d drift off again, but you kept puttering around.” She rolled to face him. “What all were you doing?”
“Things.”
She grinned.
“Important things.”
“Obviously.” Then she noticed the extra blanket. “What’s that for?”
“You had most of the comforter.”
“Oh. You’re right. Didn’t mean to hog it. You should’ve just pulled it over to your side.”
“I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not? You did it all the time when we were kids.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, we’re not kids anymore.” Reaching for her, he pulled her close. “We’re lovers. And lovers don’t yank covers off their beloved. They fetch another blanket.”
Her gaze softened. “I’m your beloved?”
“Yes, ma’am. And I’m yours.”
“I like that.”
“Me, too. And FYI I brought another condom from the bathroom.”
She gazed at him, clearly trying hard to keep her eyes open. So cute. She’d always hated to admit she was tired. And he’d be damned if he’d confess to it.
Finally she covered her mouth and yawned. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m pretty sleepy.”
“You’re pretty awake, too.”
“Aw, thanks. Anyway, I’d just like to snuggle.”
“Then come here.” Rolling to his back, he gathered her close, settling her head on his shoulder. “How’s that?”
“Perfect.” She tucked in close and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Good night, my beloved Adam.”
“Good night, my beloved Tracy.” He adjusted the covers and stroked her silken hair until she dozed off. His beloved Tracy. He liked that. A little too much.
But analyzing his thoughts on the matter required energy he didn’t have. He fell into a dreamless sleep.
When the alarm chimed he would have sworn he’d been asleep about five minutes. He and Tracy struggled to untangle from each other and the covers. They bumped heads in the process, each of them calling out sorry several times before they were finally upright.
She chuckled. “Good thing we weren’t planning on having sex right now.”
“You’re telling me. Listen, I need to grab a quick shower.”
“And I need to pull myself together. I’ll take your guest bath so you can have yours to yourself.”
“That works. See you in a few. Oh, wait. Do you want coffee? I can start it before I?—”
“Let me make it. Go take your shower.”
“Okay. Don’t leave.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
No, she wouldn’t. He hadn’t had to say it but for one panicky moment he’d been afraid she might just disappear. Or he’d wake up and this entire episode would have been a dream.
It had that quality about it. The ride they’d taken with his sisters seemed eons ago. He didn’t even feel like the same person who’d taken Banjo out yesterday.
Today he was Tracy’s beloved. They were planning to continue their semi-secret affair tomorrow. Would she tell his sisters? Would he tell Luis? Since this had turned into more than a one-night stand, he probably would.
He showered quickly and skipped shaving. The aroma of coffee drifted into his bedroom as he dressed. That startled him, even though she’d offered to make it. He wasn’t used to having someone else in the house this time of day.
Then it hit him. He’d never invited a woman to his cabin. Huh. His dates had all lived in town. They’d go dancing or see a movie and then go to her place.
But with Tracy, he hadn’t thought twice. He’d wanted her here. He still did, but their new plan made more sense. Far less chance of his entire family catching on.
When he walked into the kitchen, she was dressed and at the table, her phone next to her and both hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.
She glanced up. “I didn’t wait for you.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.” He smiled. “Especially since you’re gripping that mug like a lifeline.”
She smiled back. “Because it is. Thanks for letting me make some.”
“Hey, it’s my lifeline, too. It’s a treat to walk into the kitchen and find coffee already made.” He filled the mug she’d left on the counter for him. “It occurs to me we don’t see each other first thing in the morning. Not anymore.”
“I know. I can’t remember the last time I saw you with whiskers.”
He pulled out the chair catty-corner from her. Sitting across the table put her too far away. “Whatcha think? Should I keep them?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Not if you want to kiss me this week.”
“Then I can’t kiss you now?”
“Only if you’re careful. That thing about redheads is true. We show every little mark, and there goes our secret right out the window.”
“I must have been careful last night. You look untouched.” And so beautiful it made him ache all over.
“You were careful. You’re a good kisser.”
“Aw, shucks, ma’am. Thank you kindly.”
“No, I mean it! You can be passionate without grinding your mouth against mine. That’s a rare skill.”
And now he was hot and bothered. “I hope you know this kind of talk will lead to more of my stellar kisses, and that condom is still lying on the easy chair in the living room.”
She met his gaze. “We’re not using it.”
“I know, but I want to.”
“Save it for tomorrow.”
His eager body was not happy with that timeline. “Did you find an opening?”
“I checked my phone while the coffee perked. I don’t have a one o’clock.”
“But a two o’clock?”
“Yep.”
“Then let’s take the lunch hour plus the hour after that.”
“Can’t. I promised Mila we’d have lunch tomorrow and that’s very?—”
“Important. I get it. Those six weeks were tough on everyone, especially her. I’ll see you at one. Text me if lunch goes long.”
“It won’t. I plan to tell her what we’re up to.”
“Ah.”
“You’d rather I didn’t?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. Your choice, not mine. And you probably should. I thought I’d talk to Luis today.”
She nodded. “Good idea. Get the male perspective.”
“Mine doesn’t count?”
“With all due respect, no, it doesn’t. You’re too close to the situation. So am I. We’re in the thick of it.”
“That I would agree with. Some parts thicker than others.” He winked at her.
“Don’t you dare start with the sexy talk.”
“But it’s so fun to see you blush and try not to laugh.”
“I’ve never seen this side of you.”
“But now you’ve seen all sides of me. And vice-versa. Speaking for myself, I’ve found that invigorating. You look great without clothes.”
“So do you. But then I figured you would.”
“I figured you would, too, after all that time we spent at the water hole.”
“Was that the memory that came back to you yesterday? Something to do with the water hole?”
“Yeah.” Even now it had the power to arouse him, which had to be why he’d stuffed it for years. “The summer I turned sixteen, I dreamed you and I were making out there. And you were naked.”
“So a part of you wanted me?”
“A very specific part. When I woke up, I was hard. And horrified. I wasn’t ever going to think of you that way again. So I didn’t. Not until….”
“New Year’s Eve.”
“Yes, ma’am. But I still wouldn’t let myself remember that dream. Not until yesterday.”
“Did you tell anybody back then?”
“Are you kidding? I was ashamed of myself. You’re the first person I’ve told. Claudette figured out I’d remembered something and wanted to know what it was, but I brushed her off.”
She reached over and squeezed his arm. “I don’t know if it’ll help, but I have a water hole story, too.”
“Oh, really?”
“It’s not as dramatic as yours and it wasn’t a dream. It was reality.”
“Please don’t tell me I groped you when we were both underwater.”
“Nothing like that. You were always a perfect gentleman. You did nothing but take off your shirt.”
“That’s it?”
She nodded. “One day that same summer you pulled off your T-shirt just like you always did, reaching over your head to yank it up from the back, and your biceps bulged. I’d never noticed that before, or realized how muscular your chest was or how tan you were. You became this bronzed god.”
“At sixteen? I was still skinny.”
“Not to me. My tummy felt like I’d been on the Tilt-a-Whirl. And I knew I shouldn’t feel like that. Not about the boy who was like a brother to me.”
“And now we’ve broken the taboo.”
“We have.” She held his gaze. “Do you think that’ll help?”
“I honestly have no idea. Like you said, we’re too close to it. I only know I can’t wait until one o’clock tomorrow.”
“Same here.”
“In fact, I don’t want to say goodbye right now.”
“But we need to.” She put down her mug and stood. “I’ll start.”
“All right.” He got up, too.
“Goodbye, my beloved Adam.”
“See you soon, my beloved Tracy.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.
She touched his cheek. Then she hurried out of the kitchen.
Rustling near the door told him she was putting on her coat. He stayed where he was as she opened the door and closed it behind her. He wanted to walk her down to her truck and make sure she got it started okay. Couldn’t do that.
The soft rumble of Bluebell’s engine carried all the way up the hill, letting him know she was leaving. And damn it all, she was taking his heart with her.