Page 34 of Full Mountie

“You’re not tucking me in.”

“Why not?”

“Because I…” I lick my lips. Because I tuck Beth in. Because I don’t need him to take care of me. What we have is different. He’s not going to like any of those answers. So instead I pull him against me and put his hands on my bare torso. “Because I’ll see you out, and kiss you goodbye properly,” I whisper before I nip at his lower lip.

“You’re a chicken, you know that?”

“Yeah. There’s a difference between reticence and being a coward, and I’m not sure where chicken falls on the scale, but sure.” I kiss him hard on the mouth. “Now get out of my house so I can get some sleep.”

He pats my cheek and shakes his head, but he makes for the front door. I follow and watch him saunter down the drive.

From the kitchen, I hear my phone vibrate.

I close and lock the door, then go to find it. I’ve just received a text message from Beth.

Beth: Are we still on for dinner tomorrow before you fly out west? A little birdie named Gavin mentioned that you had to pull another overnight shift last night.

Lachlan: Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. Where do you want to go?

Beth: How about you come over to my place? I can make spaghetti.

The next nightI clock out of work at six on the nose. I’ll need to be at the airport at nine, and I’m already packed, so I’ve got three hours, and they’re all hers.

I stop and pick up a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers on my way.

I’ve arrived at her apartment just a minute after she does, she explains after giving me a quick kiss. She’s still in her work clothes. She excuses herself into her bedroom and comes back a few minutes later in yoga pants and a t-shirt that has an oversized watercolour flower on it.

“You look good enough to eat.”Again,I think to myself, picking her up and swinging her onto her kitchen counter.

She laughs and leans into me, her arms wrapping around my neck. “You’ve confused me with my unforgettable spaghetti sauce,” she whispers.

I’m not confused at all, but maybe I’ll save Beth for dessert. Right now I settle for a kiss, long and slow, one that leaves us both panting a little. She’s so responsive, I just can’t get enough of her.

“I’m an idiot for waiting so long to do this,” I admit when I hug her again, my mouth next to her ear, my words quiet.

She doesn’t say anything, she just squeezes me back. Then she slides off the counter and leads me around the kitchen, getting me to help her as she pulls together a quick dinner. The sauce is already made and frozen in individual servings. She pulls out two packets, then does an exaggerated look up and down my body and grabs a third from the freezer.

Smart girl.

She throws the freezer bags into a hot water bath to start them thawing as she directs me to fill a pot with water. Then she rifles through her fridge. “Do we need a salad on the side?”

“I’m easy either way.”

She pulls out a clamshell of baby spinach. “Can I just add this to the sauce instead?”

I crowd against her and take the spinach. “You can do whatever you want.”

She leans back against the counter and raises her eyebrows. “That’s dangerous.”

And she says it like we’re not just talking about food. Not just talking about fucking, either.

“I know.” Fuck, do I know. But I’m spinning pretty hard out of control for her now, and I’m finding it hard to care.

She presses her hand against my chest and looks up at me, her eyes full of concern. “You’ll tell me, right? If this is all too crazy?”

No. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll tell her that. No matter what, I’m in now. “It’s not crazy at all. It’s…” I think about Hugh in my kitchen yesterday morning. I pull her close. “This feels right. Exactly as we’re doing it.”

Right, completely out of control…those two things can co-exist for me. They have before.

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