Page 46 of Full Mountie

There’s nogoodreason for me to happy about a flood at the community centre Gavin’s afternoon event was going to be held in.

There are two very bad reasons, though, and their names are Beth and Hugh. If we leave for Ottawa sooner than later, I might get to see one of them tonight, and it’s been a long and lonely week.

We’ve just left our lunch event at the University of Edmonton, and a local staffer is next to me in the front seat, trying to figure out on her phone what the new plan is.

I glance at Gavin in the rear view mirror. He looks tired, but I won’t use that. I willnotsuggest we do a quick meet and greet outside the community centre and then get out of the repair team’s way.

I will not—

Gavin leans forward. “Aline, what do you think about just stopping at the community centre real quick, doing a meet and greet, and then getting out of their hair?”

On the inside, I do an epic fist pump. On the outside, I keep my mouth shut and my face passive.

She finishes her text message and nods. “Yeah. That should be fine. The church parking lot across the way is pretty big. We can’t use their basement, it’s too small, so…yeah. Okay. It looks like that’s the new plan. Thirty-minute stop there sound good?”

It sounds fucking amazing.

ItextBeth from the Edmonton air field, but I keep it vague and about Gavin. I hope she can read between the lines because she’d also have received the schedule update from the local staffer, so the only reason I’m telling her, too, is because I’m coming home to her.

In the air, I try to compose an email, but I’m not good at the subterfuge of a secret love affair. This not-telling-anyone thing can’t last long, I’m not going to make it.

When we land, I head straight home. I call her from my driveway. There’s no answer. It’s eight-thirty at night. Maybe she’s gone out for the night and left her phone at home.

I send her another text.

Lachlan: Back in the province. Give me a call when you’re free.

That’s innocent enough. I get out of the car as I dial Hugh’s number.

He answers on the first ring. “Hey. You guys landed? Heard the return got bumped up by a few hours.”

“Yep. Just getting home now.” I put my key in the lock and turn. “You want to come over?”

He doesn’t answer right away. I push the door open and flip on the lights. There’s something extra still about a house that hasn’t moved in a week. “I would, man, but…”

Fuck. I know what he’s going to say. I finish his sentence for him. “You’re seeing Beth tonight?”

Another hesitation. “Yeah.”

Right. “Disregard me, then. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hang up before he can say anything else.

My bag slips off my shoulder and bangs against my arm as it tumbles to the ground. I give a half-hearted attempt to catch it as it slides past my fingers, but they’re loose and useless.

Fuck.

I stare at the duffle bag.

Maybe she’s in the shower right now, getting ready for their date. Water sluicing down her body. Between her tits. Slick bubbles, steam.

I get half-hard thinking about it, even as a weird, uncomfortable anger burns beneath my collar.

Hugh arriving at her door. Giving her a dirty look.

Now I’m all the way hard.

Fuck.

I kick my duffle bag and it sails all the way down the hall, landing in front of my bedroom door.

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