Page 40 of A December to Remember
Joe put the parsnips down, flicked the sign on the door round toClosed, pulled down the blinds, and latched the door. He walked determinedly toward her. Instinctively she took a step backward and found her back against the wall. She ought to at least attempt to protest that it wasn’t good business to close the shop willy-nilly and she really did feel dreadfully hungover, but those thoughts were fleeting, and her body was already in full agreement with Joe’s plan. Her pulse spiked; she squeezed her thighs together in delicious anticipation. He had that look in his eyes, the flash of something dark that took her breath away and brought heat to her cheeks. It was a look that made her forget everything.
“Sometimes,” he said, his voice low as he took her by the wrists and pulled her arms above her head, “you need to counteract one strong feeling with a more powerful sensation to cancel it out.”
“How’s your hangover?”he asked, his face buried in her hair.
“Cured.” Maggie smiled dreamily.
He pulled away, sweeping her curls off her face and tracing his finger along her jaw. He kissed her softly, his sweetness returned. Maggie enjoyed all the sides of Joe. The attentive, tender lover and the one who could apparently shag a hangover right out of her.
As they put themselves back together, she knew that her cheeks were red from more than just the exertions of the last fifteen minutes. She was embarrassed at her own wantonness. It had been a long time since she’d been so brazen, maybe notsince Josh. With Joe, she felt able to embrace all the facets of herself, not just the parts she felt were palatable to others, and that notion both pleased and frightened her at the same time.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said sheepishly.
“You can’t buythatremedy at the pharmacy.” She couldn’t suppress her smile. “Is it a tried and tested treatment?”
His laugh was soft and low. “A gentleman never cures and tells.”
“Fair enough.” The sharp scratch of jealousy caught her off guard. She had no right to it.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” he asked.
“No thanks, I only came back to see if you needed any help.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, and she flushed anew. She cleared her throat theatrically.
“Anyway, you seem to be coping, so I’ll get back over the road if that’s okay, see if we can find this strongbox.”
Joe moved toward her and kissed her lightly and the familiar war of emotions filled her chest.
The morning skywas dark and the rain seemed determined to find its way inside her coat, but the cold helped to crystallize her scattered thoughts on her way to the curios shop. Joe wanted a relationship. She knew all the reasons why it wasn’t a good idea, but still, he wasn’t making it easy for her. If she was being completely honest with herself, it wasn’t only the age and baby thing that was holding her back. In her experience men always left, even the good ones. She’d loved Josh and he’d died; granted he hadn’t done it on purpose, but he’d left her all the same and part of her would be forever broken because of it. There had been others over the years and always they left in the end. Evenher own father was only ever a fleeting presence. Each man who left took a piece of her heart with them; some took a bigger slice than others. The truth of it was that what remained of her heart was fragile and she couldn’t risk losing it. After all, life had taught her time and again that she wasn’t enough to make a person stay.
17
With Simone andMaggie having filled up respectively on carbs and orgasms, they joined Star back at the shop. They were standing in the kitchenette while Star made cups of tea. Duncan was still in the leather chair, working on his laptop.
“I saw Patrick in Betty’s, looks like I’m not the only one nursing a hangover today,” said Simone. “He lookedrough.”
“He’s been catching up with his old friends while he’s home from uni. He hasn’t yet learned the art of moderation.”
“Like mother like son,” quipped Star.
“I get the feeling he’s worried about you. He didn’t say as much, but I got the impression he’s not keen on Joe.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Patrick is being overprotective. It would be sweet if it wasn’t so annoying. Plus, I think there’s some male rivalry there.”
“Does Joe try to tell him what to do?” asked Star.
“No, not at all. He’s really careful not to give Patrick any cause for alarm or animosity. Honestly the way Patrick speaks to him sometimes, I don’t know how Joe holds his tongue; I wouldn’t be able to. Unfortunately, despite Joe’s best efforts, Patrick still feels threatened.”
“He’s just looking out for his mum,” said Star. “I think it’s a boy thing.”
“I wish he’d realize that I don’t need looking out for. I’m the parent. I’m not sure when this shift in our dynamic happened. Joe thinks he knows something’s going on between us.”
“Everybodyknows, Maggie!” Star drawled. “You two are the worst-kept secret since Charles and Camilla’s affair.”
“Star’s right,” said Simone.
“Maybe, if this thing with Joe is something that’s going to become serious, you ought to discuss it with Patrick, so he understands that Joe isn’t a threat to your family dynamic.”
