Page 30 of Seasoned
“It was hard.” He took a sip of beer and then set the bottle on the railing.
“Is that why you left the construction business?” she asked.
His jaw tightened and he didn’t speak for a while. Renee rubbed her thumb over the condensation on the bottle, hoping she hadn’t gone too far with her questioning.
“She was my best friend, my business partner,” Clive said in a grave, quiet voice.
Was he still in love with his wife? She hoped not. Renee swallowed the lump of jealousy in her throat.
“Shutting down the business was the best decision. I couldn’t do it on my own. It wasn’t the same without her. Nothing was the same without my Margaret.” Clive balled up the fingers of his left hand.
Renee covered his oversized hand with her palm. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m fine,” he said gruffly.
She squeezed his tight, tension-filled fist. “Hey, I have an idea. How about we dance?”
“Dance?”
“Yes, dance. I learned something new about you today, and now you can learn something about me. You already know I love reading and going to literary events, but I also love to dance.”
Renee went back inside and retrieved her purse. When she came out, she removed her phone and pulled up one of her many Spotify playlists. She hit play, and the first song was “Use Me.”
“Bill Withers,” Clive said, the furrow of his brow loosening. He pulled her into his arms.
“What do you know about Bill Withers?” Renee teased, tilting her head back and admiring the strong angles of his jawline.
“Have you seen the men I hang out with?”
They laughed as he pulled her closer, and they turned in a circle around the deck. Renee draped her arms over his shoulders and relaxed in his arms. As they danced, she smoothed her hands over his biceps, reveling in the strength exuded by the muscles beneath his shirt.
“I haven’t danced in a long time,” Clive said.
“You’re doing a pretty good job,” Renee said.
Clive turned her in a slow spin and she shook her hips.
“Wait a minute now,” he murmured, pulling her back against him.
Laughing, Renee tossed her head back and settled against his chest. With the deck lights breaking up the shadows across the back yard, they swayed together in time to the music, like one unit, as if they’d always been together.
Renee realized with deep sadness that there hadn’t been many moments like this in her marriages. Her second marriage in particular had been more like a business arrangement, two people proud of the fact that they could talk about the intersection of politics and education at cocktail parties and education summits.
But no dancing. No laughter. No fun.
“I think it’s time for us to go to bed, don’t you?” Clive asked. He was already hard against her bottom.
Renee rubbed her ass harder against him and he groaned.
“Do you want to go to bed, or do it out here?” Clive whispered huskily. He cupped her breasts and squeezed. “Hmm?” Nuzzling her neck, he moved her toward the railing.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I thought I could bend you over this railing…”
She gasped. “I’m not tall enough.”
“I can make it work.” His hand slid between her legs.
