Chapter 6
Rebecca
“You’ve slept with this guy, right?”
“Yes, but only because I listened to your crazy advice.”
“It was good advice,” Celeste replied confidently. “You were smart to take me up on it.”
“Is there a point you’re trying to make here?”
“I just don’t see what you’re getting so worked up about.” She sat down on the edge of my bed as she continued, “This guy has seen your girlie bits on multiple occasions. I don’t think he’s gonna care if you’re wearing jeans and a sweater or a skirt and boots.”
“This will be the first time we’ve spent any real time together, Celeste.” I tried on a third sweater and looked at myself in the mirror. “I just want to look pretty.”
“I think you’re worrying over nothing. He obviously thinks you’re hot—otherwise he wouldn’t be coming over tonight.”
“That’s just it. I don’t even know if he’s coming. I haven’t heard anything from him since the day he picked up Cat from school.” I took off the sweater and tossed it on the bed next to Celeste, then grabbed another one from the closet. “For all I know, he forgot about my dinner invitation.”
“I highly doubt that, babe.” She motioned her hand from my head down to my feet. “I mean, look at you. He’d be crazy to pass up a chance to spend the night alone with you.”
“I’m sure he has his pick of women. Why would he want to be with someone who’s covered in scars and has a kid with a few of her own?
” The thought had me suddenly feeling insecure, and I quickly slipped on my sweater.
“Look, he’s probably not coming. Let’s just order a pizza, have a few drinks, and watch a scary movie. ”
“Yeah, we could do that.” Celeste reached over and grabbed my phone from the bedside table. “Or you could just text the guy and find out.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why not?” she pushed.
“Because I don’t want to sound like I’m desperate. Besides, I’d much rather spend the night hanging out with you.” I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and smiled. “You go grab the booze, and I’ll order the pizza.”
“Sorry, doll. I’m gonna have to take a raincheck.” Celeste stood and walked over to my floor-length mirror. She toyed with her purple-colored hair. “I’ve got a hot date tonight.”
“You do?” I gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You didn’t ask.” She turned to face me. “You were too busy going on and on about your sexy biker boy.”
“You’re right. I’m a selfish asshole.”
“No, you’re not. You’ve just had a lot on your mind lately.”
“Yes, but that’s no excuse.” I couldn’t have felt worse. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my own crazy head that I haven’t been a very good friend to you.”
“You’re a great friend, Becca. You always have been. That’s why I’m here right now. That’s why I’ll always be here.” She gave me a warm smile. “Now, do you wanna hear about my hot date or not?”
“Of course, I do!” I sat down on the edge of the bed, crossed my legs, and gave her my full attention. “I want to hear all about her.”
“Well, her name is Joan, and she’s pretty awesome.”
Celeste sat down next to me and told me all about Joan.
It did my heart good to see my dear friend so excited.
She’d spent the past year trying to recover from a difficult breakup, and this was the first time I’d seen her truly excited about dating again.
When she was done telling me how she and Joan had met, I asked, “So, what are you two going to do tonight?”
“I was thinking I’d take her to the Rainbow Room for drinks and maybe dinner, and then we’d see how things go from there.”
“That sounds like a great plan.”
She glanced down at her watch, then stood up and said, “I better get going. I need to change my clothes and be at her place before seven.”
“Okay.” I hugged her. “I hope you have a great time.”
“Oh, I will. You can count on it.” As Celeste started walking out of the room, she said, “You should message the hot biker guy. That way, you’d have a good time, too.”
“I’ll have a good time all on my own, thank you very much.”
“Pfft, not as much fun as you’d have with him.”
“Will you just go already!”
“I’m going, I’m going.” On her way down the stairs, she shouted, “I’ll call you tomorrow!”
“You better.”
Seconds later, I heard my front door open and then slam shut, and I was officially alone. I glanced over at my phone, and for a moment, I was tempted to take Celeste’s advice and message Thatch.
But after thinking it over, I decided against it.
He knew I was here alone. If he wanted to see me, then he would’ve made arrangements to do so.
He hadn’t, so it was time for me to move on.
I picked up the clothes I’d tried on and put them away, then went into the bathroom and drew a hot bath.
While the water was running, I rushed downstairs to pour myself a glass of wine and turn on some music.
By the time I made it back upstairs, my bath was ready, and I spent the next hour enjoying a long, hot soak.
After I got out, I put on my favorite PJs, ordered a pizza, and searched for a movie to watch.
I was just about to start painting my nails when I heard a knock at the door.
Even though it was a little fast, I figured it was the pizza guy, so I shouted, “Just a minute!”
I quickly grabbed my wallet from the kitchen table and rushed to the front door. When I opened it, I was surprised to find Thatcher standing there, and as always, he looked incredible in his dark button-down shirt and leather cut.
His dark hair was disheveled in the most delicious way, and his full lips curled behind his thick beard made it difficult to think about anything else. After a quick breath, I finally managed to speak. “Thatch? What are you doing here?”
“You mentioned something about having dinner the other night.”
“Yeah, I did, but I never heard back from you.”
“I didn’t hear from you either.”
“So, you decided to just come anyway?”
“Well, yeah. I wanted to see ya and figured this was the best way to do it.”
“You could’ve called and given me a little warning.”
His eyes drifted over my old plaid flannel pajamas and snickered. “But then I would’ve missed out on seeing ya in those sexy PJs.”
“That’s it. I’m going to go change.”
I immediately turned to head upstairs but stopped when I felt Thatcher’s hand on my arm. “The hell you are.”
He stepped inside and shut the door, then pulled me close. And, of course, I immediately melted into him. I simply couldn’t help myself. There was something about feeling those big, strong arms and the warmth of his broad, muscular chest that made my knees weak.
After several moments, he looked down at me with one of his sexy smirks, and a chill skirted down my spine, making me feel even more mortified that I was standing there in my flannels. “Clearly, I wasn’t planning on seeing anyone tonight. Just let me run upstairs and change.”
“Why would you change?” The sexy smirk returned. “The flannel’s good.”
“Oh, God. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“It’s pretty soft.” He reached up and ran his thumb across the lapel. “Feels like you’ve had them awhile.”
“Thatcher.”
“I’m just fucking around.” He motioned his head behind us, then ordered, “Now, move that sexy little ass of yours over to the sofa, and let’s figure out what we’re gonna have for dinner.”
“Okay, Mr. Bossy Pants.” As I started walking in that direction, I told him, “I just ordered pizza, but—”
“Pizza will be fine.”
He removed his cut, then draped it over one of the chairs before following me into the living room.
Once we were both seated, I settled back on the sofa and tried not to let the fact of Thatch sitting just a few inches away from me mess with my head.
“So, what do you want to do? We could watch a movie or—”
“How ’bout we just talk for a bit?”
“Okay. What do you wanna talk about?”
“Well, you could tell me a little about yourself.” He studied me for a minute. “Like, how old were you when you had Cat?”
“Old enough.” I crossed my arms and gave him a scolding look. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. There are times, like tonight, when you look especially young to have a kid her age.”
“Well, I can assure you, I’d already had my nursing degree and was married long before she came along.”
“Okay, okay. I was pointing out that you look young.” His eyes skirted over me once again. “Must be the pajamas.”
“Oh, God. You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”
“Nope, not a chance.” He gave me a playful wink, then asked, “So, what about you and the ex? You never told me how you two met.”
“I never told you lots of things.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m asking.”
I cleared my throat as I shifted in my seat. “Okay, but are you sure you want to open the vault?”
“The vault?”
“Yeah, you know, the place where we lock away all our dirty little secrets and personal drama. We keep them there, so no one knows just how screwed up our lives truly are.” I gave him a slight shrug as I explained, “Because once it’s opened, you can’t lock it back up. At least, not the way it was.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Alrighty then.” I settled back in my seat as I began, “I met Trevor when I was working at the regional hospital up North. I was a critical care nurse, and he’d come in with a pretty severe back injury.”
Thatcher cocked his eyebrow with a smirk. “So, you were his nurse?”
“Yes, but don’t get any ideas. We didn’t actually start dating until after he was discharged from the hospital, and even then, it was a few months before he was able to get around.”
“How long were you married?”
“Not that long. Just five years or so.”
“I see.” He studied me for a moment, and I feared he was about to ask why we’d gotten a divorce, but he didn’t. “So now it’s just you and Cat?”
“Well, I have my folks. They help me out a lot, and there’s Celeste and Henry.”
I could tell I’d piqued his interest with the mention of Henry’s name. It was written all over his face, but he kept his tone calm and steady as he asked, “Celeste and Henry?”
“Celeste has been my best friend since nursing school. We met at a coffee shop when she made the mistake of asking me out.”